title: Versatile Method for Producing 2D and 3D Conductive Biomaterial Composites Using Sequential Chemical and Electrochemical Polymerization.
abstract: Flexible and conductive biocompatible materials are attractive candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications including implantable electrodes, tissue engineering, and controlled drug delivery. Here, we demonstrate that chemical and electrochemical polymerization techniques can be combined to create highly versatile silk-conducting polymer (silk-CP) composites with enhanced conductivity and electrochemical stability. Interpenetrating silk-CP composites were first generated via in situ deposition of polypyrrole during chemical polymerization of pyrrole. These composites were sufficiently conductive to serve as working electrodes for electropolymerization, which allowed an additional layer of CP to be deposited on the surface. This sequential method was applied to both 2D films and 3D sponge-like silk scaffolds, producing conductive materials with biomimetic architectures. Overall, this two-step technique expanded the range of available polymers and dopants suitable for the synthesis of mechanically robust, biocompatible, and highly conductive silk-based materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western Washington University , 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225-9150, United States.
authors.forename: Sean Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Severt
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western Washington University , 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225-9150, United States.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ostrovsky-Snider
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western Washington University , 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225-9150, United States.
authors.forename: Janelle M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leger
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western Washington University , 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225-9150, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012831:Bombyx; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry; D047011:Silk; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D011758:Pyrroles; D047011:Silk; C067635:polypyrrole
keywords: biomaterials; conducting polymer; electropolymerization; interpenetrating networks; poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); poly(hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); poly(pyrrole); silk