Enhanced wireless cell stimulation using soft and improved bipolar electroactive conducting polymer templates. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Chunyan; Yue, Zhilian; Huang, Xu-Feng; Forster, Robert J.; Wallace, Gordon G.; Chen, Jun
• Is Part Of: Applied materials today. Volume 27(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Improved bipolar electroactivity -- Soft conducting polymer -- Cell stimulation -- Bipolar electrostimulation -- Wireless; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2022.101481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-9407

Abstract

Highlights: Electronically conductive PMAS enhances the electrochemical property of the host PPy. Rat PC 12 cell on PPy shows increased differentiation with bipolar electrostimulation. Soft CPs comprise PEDOT-PSS for mechanical support to a blend of PMAS doped PPy. Significant increase in cell growth and neurite extension are observed on soft CPs. Soft CPs-based bipolar electrostimulation fosters human SH-SY5Y cell to differentiate. Abstract: Bipolar electrostimulation (BPES) invoked using organic conducting polymers (CPs) has provided a unique route to communicating with living cells. This work brings new dimensions to BPES in terms of the conducting polymer composition and the ability to implement on a soft substrate. Poly(2-methoxyaniline-5-sulfonic acid) (PMAS) has been used as a redox active, electronically conductive dopant to enhance the electrochemical properties of the host polypyrrole (PPy). Significantly, rat PC 12 cells cultivated on a multilayer, mechanically flexible, conducting polymer support show increased differentiation when BPES is applied. The soft template (PPy-PMAS-collagen/PEDOT-PSS) comprises poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) that provides mechanical and structural support to a blend of highly conducting PMAS modified PPy. In vitro cultivation and BPES of PC 12 cells on the prepared soft templates showed a significant increase in cell growth and neurites extension. Furthermore, the potential application of the soft template-based BPES system to living human cells is reported. The new BPES platform encourages human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to differentiate and form extensive neuronal phenotypes and neural networks. This represents the possibility of using the soft template based BPES system in vivo and clinical applications related to translational models of human mental disorders. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract