title: Highly Aligned Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Nano- and Microscale Fibers and Tubes.
abstract: This study reports a facile method for the fabrication of aligned Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) fibers and tubes based on electrospinning and oxidative chemical polymerization. Discrete PEDOT nano- and microfibers and nano- and microtubes are difficult to fabricate quickly and reproducibly. We employed poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymers that were loaded with polymerizable 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer to create aligned nanofiber assemblies using a rotating glass mandrel during electrospinning. The EDOT monomer/PLGA polymer blends were then polymerized by exposure to an oxidative catalyst (FeCl3). PEDOT was polymerized by continuously dripping a FeCl3solution onto the glass rod during electrospinning. The resulting PEDOT fibers were conductive, aligned and discrete. Fiber bundles could be easily produced in lengths of several centimeters. The PEDOT sheath/PLGA core fibers were immersed in chloroform to remove the PLGA and any residual EDOT resulting in hollow PEDOT tubes. This approach made it possible to easily generate large areas of aligned PEDOT fibers/tubes. The structure and properties of the aligned assemblies were measured using optical microscopy, electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and DC conductivity measurements. We also demonstrated that the aligned PEDOT sheath/PLGA core fiber assemblies could be used in supporting and directing the extension of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons in vitro.
authors: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, 210 Dupont Hall, Newark DE 19716.
authors: Jinghang
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, 210 Dupont Hall, Newark DE 19716.
authors: Whirang
authors: W
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, 210 Dupont Hall, Newark DE 19716.
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Martin
authors: School of Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Zhang-Qi
authors: ZQ
authors: Feng
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Michelle K
authors: MK
authors: Leach
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Eric W
authors: EW
authors: Franz
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Youssef I
authors: YI
authors: Naim
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Zhong-Ze
authors: ZZ
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA ; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA ; Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
authors: Joseph M
authors: JM
authors: Corey