title: Electrically-responsive core-shell hybrid microfibers for controlled drug release and cell culture.
abstract: It is an active research field to develop fiber-shaped smart materials for biomedical applications. Here we report the development of the multifunctional core-shell hybrid microfibers with excellent mechanical and electrical performance as a new smart biomaterial. The microfibers were synthesized using a combination of co-axial spinning with a microfluidic device and subsequent dip-coating, containing a hydrogel core of bacterial cellulose (BC) and a conductive polymer shell layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). The hybrid microfibers were featured with a well-controlled microscopic morphology, exhibiting enhanced mechanic properties. A model drug, diclofenac sodium, can be loaded in the core layer of the microfibers in situ during the process of synthesis. Our experiments suggested that the releasing behaviors of the drug molecules from the microfibers were enhanced by external electrical stimulation. Interestingly, we demonstrated an excellent biocompatibility and electroactivity of the hybrid microfibers for PC12 cell culture, thus promising a flexible template for the reconstruction of electrically-responsive tissues mimicking muscle fibers or nerve networks.
  
  
  
  Fiber-shaped biomaterials are useful in creating various functional objects from one dimensional to three-dimensional. The fabrication of microfibers with integrated physicochemical properties and bio-performance has drawn an increasing attention on researchers from chemical to biomedical. This study combined biocompatible bacterial cellulose with electroconductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and further reduced them to a highly electroactive BC/PEDOT core-shell microfiber electrode for electrochemical actuator design. The result showed that the microfibers were well fabricated and the release of drugs from the microfibers was enhanced and could be controlled under electrical stimulation externally. Considering the excellent biocompatibility and electroactive toward PC12 cells, these microfibers may find use as templates for the reconstruction of fiber-shaped functional tissues that mimic muscle fibers, blood vessels or nerve networks in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Chuntao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Chenxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Beibei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiazhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: jliu@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemicobiology and Functional Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiao Ling Wei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: sundpe301@163.com.
authors.forename: Dongping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011108:Polymers; C121383:poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene); D004008:Diclofenac; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Controlled drug release; Core-shell; Electrical-responsive; Flexible microfibers; Microfluidic