Design and Characterization of Conductive Biopolymer Nanocomposite Electrodes for Medical Applications

Abstract

Metal-based electrodes, despite being the most widely used for biomedical applications, are limited by a poor reliable skin-surface interface and patients suffer from comfort issues. The most common problems/inconveniences are caused by stiff electrodes, skin irritation, allergic reaction or corrosion. In order to overcome these problems, we produced and tested flexible electrodes involving biopolymer nanocomposite materials. Conductive polymers have been intensively studied and applied in the field of organic photovoltaics and flexible organic electronics. Recently, the use of conductive biopolymer nanocomposite has also emerged as an interesting and promising material for biomedical applications. In this study, we have designed and characterized electrodes made of a flexible and conductive nanocomposite material using a biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric matrix of poly (3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA, in particular poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB) containing conductive nanowires. The biopolymer nanocomposites and their electrical conductivities were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrical four-point probing. The electrical conductivities obtained in the different PHA-polymer nanocomposites containing different concentrations of conductive additives is discussed in relation to the nanocomposite structure at the microscopic level. Finally, our developed biopolymer nanocomposite prototype electrodes have successfully been tested for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and electrocardiography ECG applications in comparison to conventional electrodes.

Novel RP-HPLC based assay for selective and sensitive endotoxin quantification

“…Samples were obtained during biopolymer purification 71,72 . These PHA biopolymers are synthesized and intracellular accumulated by Pseudomonas putida.…”

New active formulations against M. tuberculosis: Bedaquiline encapsulation in lipid nanoparticles and chitosan nanocapsules

“…Among the high number of biopolymers used in drug delivery applications (alginate, hyaluronic acid, pectine, albumin, fibroin, etc.) [12,13], chitosan is widely used in nanomedicine because of the excellent biocompatibility and safety of its degradation products [14]. Chitosan has been chosen as nanoemulsion stabilizer since it is very rich in amino groups, which makes it useful to favour interaction of nanocarrier and respiratory tract mucose.…”

Use of biodegradable polymer for development of environmental tracers: a bibliometric review

“…Notwithstanding this, regarding the energy and electricity areas, some conductive polymers and nanocomposites have been extensively studied and applied in the field of organic photovoltaic elements and flexible organic electronics. As an example, flexible conductive biopolymer nanocomposites (made with silver nanowires and PHB) have also emerged as a transcutaneous, stimulated sensor [70] . This was developed by Tematio et al [70] in the Laboratory of Applied Nano Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences, Western Switzerland.…”

“…As an example, flexible conductive biopolymer nanocomposites (made with silver nanowires and PHB) have also emerged as a transcutaneous, stimulated sensor [70] . This was developed by Tematio et al [70] in the Laboratory of Applied Nano Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences, Western Switzerland. Finally, another environmental example was a biopolymer used to produce a nanofiber composite nanofiltration membrane (NCNM) to remove dye from contaminated water.…”