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Kalulu M, Chilikwazi B, Hu J, Fu G. Soft Actuators and Actuation: Design, Synthesis, and Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400282. [PMID: 38850266 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Soft actuators are one of the most promising technological advancements with potential solutions to diverse fields' day-to-day challenges. Soft actuators derived from hydrogel materials possess unique features such as flexibility, responsiveness to stimuli, and intricate deformations, making them ideal for soft robotics, artificial muscles, and biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of material composition and design techniques for hydrogel actuators, exploring 3D printing, photopolymerization, cross-linking, and microfabrication methods for improved actuation. It examines applications of hydrogel actuators in biomedical, soft robotics, bioinspired systems, microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, and environmental, and energy systems. Finally, it discusses challenges, opportunities, advancements, and regulatory aspects related to hydrogel actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulenga Kalulu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia
| | - Bright Chilikwazi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia
| | - Jun Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
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Politrón-Zepeda GA, Fletes-Vargas G, Rodríguez-Rodríguez R. Injectable Hydrogels for Nervous Tissue Repair-A Brief Review. Gels 2024; 10:190. [PMID: 38534608 DOI: 10.3390/gels10030190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The repair of nervous tissue is a critical research field in tissue engineering because of the degenerative process in the injured nervous system. In this review, we summarize the progress of injectable hydrogels using in vitro and in vivo studies for the regeneration and repair of nervous tissue. Traditional treatments have not been favorable for patients, as they are invasive and inefficient; therefore, injectable hydrogels are promising for the treatment of damaged tissue. This review will contribute to a better understanding of injectable hydrogels as potential scaffolds and drug delivery system for neural tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys Arline Politrón-Zepeda
- Ingeniería en Sistemas Biológicos, Centro Universitario de los Valles (CUVALLES), Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Guadalajara-Ameca Km. 45.5, Ameca 46600, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Fletes-Vargas
- Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Centro Universitario de los Altos (CUALTOS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Tepatitlán-Yahualica de González Gallo, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Rogelio Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Centro Universitario de los Valles (CUVALLES), Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Guadalajara-Ameca Km. 45.5, Ameca 46600, Jalisco, Mexico
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Reynolds M, Stoy LM, Sun J, Opoku Amponsah PE, Li L, Soto M, Song S. Fabrication of Sodium Trimetaphosphate-Based PEDOT:PSS Conductive Hydrogels. Gels 2024; 10:115. [PMID: 38391444 PMCID: PMC10888113 DOI: 10.3390/gels10020115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Conductive hydrogels are highly attractive for biomedical applications due to their ability to mimic the electrophysiological environment of biological tissues. Although conducting polymer polythiophene-poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) alone exhibit high conductivity, the addition of other chemical compositions could further improve the electrical and mechanical properties of PEDOT:PSS, providing a more promising interface with biological tissues. Here we study the effects of incorporating crosslinking additives, such as glycerol and sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP), in developing interpenetrating PEDOT:PSS-based conductive hydrogels. The addition of glycerol at a low concentration maintained the PEDOT:PSS conductivity with enhanced wettability but decreased the mechanical stiffness. Increasing the concentration of STMP allowed sufficient physical crosslinking with PEDOT:PSS, resulting in improved hydrogel conductivity, wettability, and rheological properties without glycerol. The STMP-based PEDOT:PSS conductive hydrogels also exhibited shear-thinning behaviors, which are potentially favorable for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting applications. We demonstrate an interpenetrating conducting polymer hydrogel with tunable electrical and mechanical properties for cellular interactions and future tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelyn Reynolds
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Lindsay M Stoy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Jindi Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | | | - Lin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Misael Soto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Shang Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Neuroscience GIDP, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
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Goestenkors AP, Liu T, Okafor SS, Semar BA, Alvarez RM, Montgomery SK, Friedman L, Rutz AL. Manipulation of cross-linking in PEDOT:PSS hydrogels for biointerfacing. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:11357-11371. [PMID: 37997395 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01415k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Conducting hydrogels can be used to fabricate bioelectronic devices that are soft for improved cell- and tissue-interfacing. Those based on conjugated polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), can be made simply with solution-based processing techniques, yet the influence of fabrication variables on final gel properties is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated if PEDOT:PSS cross-linking could be manipulated by changing the concentration of a gelling agent, ionic liquid, in the hydrogel precursor mixture. Rheology and gelation kinetics of precursor mixtures were investigated, and aqueous stability, swelling, conductivity, stiffness, and cytocompatibility of formed hydrogels were characterized. Increasing ionic liquid concentration was found to increase cross-linking as measured by decreased swelling, decreased non-network fraction, increased stiffness, and increased conductivity. Such manipulation of IL concentration thus afforded control of final gel properties and was utilized in further investigations of biointerfacing. When cross-linked sufficiently, PEDOT:PSS hydrogels were stable in sterile cell culture conditions for at least 28 days. Additionally, hydrogels supported a viable and proliferating population of human dermal fibroblasts for at least two weeks. Collectively, these characterizations of stability and cytocompatibility illustrate that these PEDOT:PSS hydrogels have significant promise for biointerfacing applications that require soft materials for direct interaction with cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Goestenkors
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Tianran Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Somtochukwu S Okafor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Barbara A Semar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Riley M Alvarez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Sandra K Montgomery
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Lianna Friedman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Alexandra L Rutz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Mankavi F, Ibrahim R, Wang H. Advances in Biomimetic Nerve Guidance Conduits for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2528. [PMID: 37764557 PMCID: PMC10536071 DOI: 10.3390/nano13182528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Injuries to the peripheral nervous system are a common clinical issue, causing dysfunctions of the motor and sensory systems. Surgical interventions such as nerve autografting are necessary to repair damaged nerves. Even with autografting, i.e., the gold standard, malfunctioning and mismatches between the injured and donor nerves often lead to unwanted failure. Thus, there is an urgent need for a new intervention in clinical practice to achieve full functional recovery. Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs), providing physicochemical cues to guide neural regeneration, have great potential for the clinical regeneration of peripheral nerves. Typically, NGCs are tubular structures with various configurations to create a microenvironment that induces the oriented and accelerated growth of axons and promotes neuron cell migration and tissue maturation within the injured tissue. Once the native neural environment is better understood, ideal NGCs should maximally recapitulate those key physiological attributes for better neural regeneration. Indeed, NGC design has evolved from solely physical guidance to biochemical stimulation. NGC fabrication requires fundamental considerations of distinct nerve structures, the associated extracellular compositions (extracellular matrices, growth factors, and cytokines), cellular components, and advanced fabrication technologies that can mimic the structure and morphology of native extracellular matrices. Thus, this review mainly summarizes the recent advances in the state-of-the-art NGCs in terms of biomaterial innovations, structural design, and advanced fabrication technologies and provides an in-depth discussion of cellular responses (adhesion, spreading, and alignment) to such biomimetic cues for neural regeneration and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hongjun Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Semcer Center for Healthcare Innovation, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA; (F.M.); (R.I.)
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Kim SD, Kim K, Shin M. Recent advances in 3D printable conductive hydrogel inks for neural engineering. NANO CONVERGENCE 2023; 10:41. [PMID: 37679589 PMCID: PMC10484881 DOI: 10.1186/s40580-023-00389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the 3D printing of conductive hydrogels has undergone remarkable advances in the fabrication of complex and functional structures. In the field of neural engineering, an increasing number of reports have been published on tissue engineering and bioelectronic approaches over the last few years. The convergence of 3D printing methods and electrically conducting hydrogels may create new clinical and therapeutic possibilities for precision regenerative medicine and implants. In this review, we summarize (i) advancements in preparation strategies for conductive materials, (ii) various printing techniques enabling the fabrication of electroconductive hydrogels, (iii) the required physicochemical properties of the printed constructs, (iv) their applications in bioelectronics and tissue regeneration for neural engineering, and (v) unconventional approaches and outlooks for the 3D printing of conductive hydrogels. This review provides technical insights into 3D printable conductive hydrogels and encompasses recent developments, specifically over the last few years of research in the neural engineering field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Dong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungryong Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Mikyung Shin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Ghandforoushan P, Alehosseini M, Golafshan N, Castilho M, Dolatshahi-Pirouz A, Hanaee J, Davaran S, Orive G. Injectable hydrogels for cartilage and bone tissue regeneration: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 246:125674. [PMID: 37406921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Annually, millions of patients suffer from irreversible injury owing to the loss or failure of an organ or tissue caused by accident, aging, or disease. The combination of injectable hydrogels and the science of stem cells have emerged to address this persistent issue in society by generating minimally invasive treatments to augment tissue function. Hydrogels are composed of a cross-linked network of polymers that exhibit a high-water retention capacity, thereby mimicking the wet environment of native cells. Due to their inherent mechanical softness, hydrogels can be used as needle-injectable stem cell carrier materials to mend tissue defects. Hydrogels are made of different natural or synthetic polymers, displaying a broad portfolio of eligible properties, which include biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, shear-thinning properties as well as tunable biological and physicochemical properties. Presently, novel ongoing developments and native-like hydrogels are increasingly being used broadly to improve the quality of life of those with disabling tissue-related diseases. The present review outlines various future and in-vitro applications of injectable hydrogel-based biomaterials, focusing on the newest ongoing developments of in-situ forming injectable hydrogels for bone and cartilage tissue engineering purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Ghandforoushan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran; Clinical Research Development, Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Morteza Alehosseini
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nasim Golafshan
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Miguel Castilho
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jalal Hanaee
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Soodabeh Davaran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Networking Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology - UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), Vitoria, Spain; University of the Basque Country, Spain.
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Lv TR, Zhang WH, Yang YQ, Zhang JC, Yin MJ, Yin Z, Yong KT, An QF. Micro/Nano-Fabrication of Flexible Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)-Based Conductive Films for High-Performance Microdevices. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2301071. [PMID: 37069773 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202301071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing demands for novel flexible organic electronic devices, conductive polymers are now becoming the rising star for reaching such targets, which has witnessed significant breakthroughs in the fields of thermoelectric devices, solar cells, sensors, and hydrogels during the past decade due to their outstanding conductivity, solution-processing ability, as well as tailorability. However, the commercialization of those devices still lags markedly behind the corresponding research advances, arising from the not high enough performance and limited manufacturing techniques. The conductivity and micro/nano-structure of conductive polymer films are two critical factors for achieving high-performance microdevices. In this review, the state-of-the-art technologies for developing organic devices by using conductive polymers are comprehensively summarized, which will begin with a description of the commonly used synthesis methods and mechanisms for conductive polymers. Next, the current techniques for the fabrication of conductive polymer films will be proffered and discussed. Subsequently, approaches for tailoring the nanostructures and microstructures of conductive polymer films are summarized and discussed. Then, the applications of micro/nano-fabricated conductive films-based devices in various fields are given and the role of the micro/nano-structures on the device performances is highlighted. Finally, the perspectives on future directions in this exciting field are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Run Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Wen-Hai Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830017, China
| | - Ya-Qiong Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Jia-Chen Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Ming-Jie Yin
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Zhigang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Ken-Tye Yong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
- The Biophotonics and Mechano-Bioengineering Lab, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Quan-Fu An
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
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Niederhoffer T, Vanhoestenberghe A, Lancashire HT. Methods of poly(3,4)-ethylenedioxithiophene (PEDOT) electrodeposition on metal electrodes for neural stimulation and recording. J Neural Eng 2023; 20. [PMID: 36603213 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acb084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Conductive polymers are of great interest in the field of neural electrodes because of their potential to improve the interfacial properties of electrodes. In particular, the conductive polymer poly (3,4)-ethylenedioxithiophene (PEDOT) has been widely studied for neural applications.Objective:This review compares methods for electrodeposition of PEDOT on metal neural electrodes, and analyses the effects of deposition methods on morphology and electrochemical performance.Approach:Electrochemical performances were analysed against several deposition method choices, including deposition charge density and co-ion, and correlations were explained to morphological and structural arguments as well as characterisation methods choices.Main results:Coating thickness and charge storage capacity are positively correlated with PEDOT electrodeposition charge density. We also show that PEDOT coated electrode impedance at 1 kHz, the only consistently reported impedance quantity, is strongly dependent upon electrode radius across a wide range of studies, because PEDOT coatings reduces the reactance of the complex impedance, conferring a more resistive behaviour to electrodes (at 1 kHz) dominated by the solution resistance and electrode geometry. This review also summarises how PEDOT co-ion choice affects coating structure and morphology and shows that co-ions notably influence the charge injection limit but have a limited influence on charge storage capacity and impedance. Finally we discuss the possible influence of characterisation methods to assess the robustness of comparisons between published results using different methods of characterisation.Significance:This review aims to serve as a common basis for researchers working with PEDOT by showing the effects of deposition methods on electrochemical performance, and aims to set a standard for accurate and uniform reporting of methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Niederhoffer
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Vanhoestenberghe
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henry T Lancashire
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Furlani F, Campodoni E, Sangiorgi N, Montesi M, Sanson A, Sandri M, Panseri S. Electroconductive scaffolds based on gelatin and PEDOT:PSS for cardiac regeneration. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 224:266-280. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Brooks AK, Wulff HE, Broitman JM, Zhang N, Yadavalli VK. Stretchable and Electroactive Crosslinked Gelatin for Biodevice and Cell Culture Applications. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:4922-4931. [PMID: 36179055 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biomimetic substrates that incorporate functionality such as electroactivity and mechanical flexibility, find utility in a variety of biomedical applications. Toward these uses, nature-derived materials such as gelatin offer inherent biocompatibility and sustainable sourcing. However, issues such as high swelling, poor mechanical properties, and lack of stability at biological temperatures limit their use. The enzymatic crosslinking of gelatin via microbial transglutaminase (mTG) yields flexible and robust large area substrates that are stable under physiological conditions. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of strong, stretchable, conductive mTG crosslinked gelatin thin films. Incorporation of the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate in the gel matrix with a bioinspired polydopamine surface coating is used to enable conductivity with enhanced mechanical properties such as extensibility and flexibility, in comparison to plain gelatin or crosslinked gelatin films. The electroconductive substrates are conducive to cell growth, supporting myoblast cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation and could find use in creating active cell culture systems incorporating electrical stimulation. The substrates are responsive to motion such as stretching and bending while being extremely handleable and elastic, making them useful for applications such as electronic skin and flexible bioelectronics. Overall, this work presents facile, yet effective development of bioinspired conductive composites as substrates for bio-integrated devices and functional tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Brooks
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Halle E Wulff
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Jacob M Broitman
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Vamsi K Yadavalli
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
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