Biomedical applications of electrically conductive polymeric systems

Abstract

Properties of the electrically conductive polymers (ECPs) enable introduction of several novel applications in various fields, among others, as biomedical materials. Their use as scaffolds for tissue engineering and recovery of damaged neural tissues is especially advantageous. They may also be used for the electrically induced drug release and delivery, and as very sensitive biosensors for clinical applications. Another use is the detection and precision of the biologically important chemical materials. They have been shown to modulate and accelerate activities of the nerve, skeletal, muscle, and bone cells. Cell growth, migration and adhesion, may be stimulated by applying electric potential. Synthesis of DNA, secretion of proteins, and transformations of stem cells may be enhanced. Clinical analysis using ECP-based biosensors make possible the precise determination of the exact composition of individual DNA molecules, and thus enable early detection and treatment of genetically related diseases. Electrochemical (EC) approach of ECP-sensors enables precise determination of concentrations of several biologically important chemicals.

Electrically conductive polymers and composites for biomedical applications

“…This new generation of "smart" biomaterials have been investigated for applications in biosensors; coatings on conventional electrodes used in neural sensing and stimulation; electrically induced drug release and delivery systems; modulators of activities of nerve, cardiac, skeletal muscle, and bone cells; and in emerging technologies such as tissue engineering. 13 The most widely investigated conducting polymers for biomedical applications include polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene and its derivatives such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). [14][15][16][17] Fig.…”

Insulating and semiconducting polymeric free-standing nanomembranes with biomedical applications

“…Recently, as ECPs have also extended to biotechnological, bioengineering and biomedical fields, [36][37][38][39] special attention has been paid to tailor desirable properties (i.e. electrical, chemical and physical properties) to better suit the nature of the specific bioapplication.…”

“…[36][37][38][39][40] In particular, for tissue engineering applications, ECPs show interesting advantages but also some limitations (i.e. hydrophobicity, the lack of mechanical integrity and the absence of biodegradability).…”

The applications of conductive nanomaterials in the biomedical field

“…Electrical signals are critical physiological stimuli factors that control the adhesion and differentiation of certain cell types (for example, nerve, cardiac, and bone). To retain cellular bioactivity and enhance overall properties of scaffold, CNMs have lately emerged as promising candidates in producing scaffolds to better mimic the natural ECM and to efficiently replace defective tissues . For instance, Hsiao et al prepared aligned PANI/poly(lactic acid‐ co ‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) conductive nanofibrous mesh via electrospinning technique.…”

“…To retain cellular bioactivity and enhance overall properties of scaffold, CNMs have lately emerged as promising candidates in producing scaffolds to better mimic the natural ECM and to efficiently replace defective tissues. 61 For instance, Hsiao et al prepared aligned PANI/poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conductive nanofibrous mesh via electrospinning technique. Their result demonstrated that the nanocomposite promoted cardiomyocyte adhesion due to the positive charges they transformed, and the fluorescence micrographs were shown in Figure 2.…”