title: Honeycomb-structured porous films from polypyrrole-containing block copolymers prepared via RAFT polymerization as a scaffold for cell growth.
abstract: Honeycomb-structured porous films were prepared using customized amphiphilic block copolymers, synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Pyrrole was templated along an amphiphilic block copolymer, composed of polystyrene and poly(acrylic acid). Subsequent oxidation of pyrrol to polypyrrole, resulted in the formation of a soluble polypyrrole-containing polymer. Gel permeation chromatography and dynamic light scattering studies confirmed the solubility of the resulting customized amphiphilic block copolymer, in both water and organic solvent, forming either micelles or inverse aggregates. Porous films with a hexagonal array of micron-sized pores were generated with the polymer, using the breath figures templating technique. The resulting films were found to be non-cytotoxic and hence suitable as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Initial fibroblast cell culture studies on these scaffolds demonstrated a dependency of cell attachment on the pore size of scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Danelle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Kok Hou
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Poole-Warren
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barner-Kowollik
authors.forename: Martina H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stenzel
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D051379:Mice; D008823:Micelles; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016062:Porosity; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011758:Pyrroles; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; C067635:polypyrrole; C006903:carbopol 940