Publicação
Production of PEDOT-Coated Scaffolds BY Vapor Phase Polymerization for Neural Regenera-tion
| Resumo: | The self-limiting properties of neural regeneration impact millions of people as there is no avail-able procedure that allows full nerve recovery after damage, inhibiting complete function restoration and leaving patients with life-long repercussions. It has been thoroughly reported that electrical stimu-lation of nerve cells promotes nerve regeneration. Hence, this thesis work will focus on the development of a biocompatible conductive scaffold for neural regeneration. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is a conductive polymer often used in biomedical applications. In this dissertation, PEDOT was synthetized via vapor phase polymerization (VPP) using Fe(III)Tosylate (FeTos) as oxidant and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer. In literature, FeTos stock solutions of 40% w/v in butanol are predominantly used to the best of our knowledge, leaving a significant gap in the understanding of how other solvents affect the properties of PEDOT. Therefore, a plethora of aprotic solvents that dissolve the oxidant were studied. Polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds containing oxidant solutions were fabricated via electrospinning and subsequently submitted to VPP, where PEDOT is formed. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images revealed PEDOT films coating the polymeric fibers. Chemical analysis was performed by Fou-rier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and confirmed the presence of PEDOT, but also revealed a small index of monomer damage. A 2-probe test estimated the conductivity, and the results were as high as 1.50 x 10-1 S/cm. Regardless of the oxidant solvent, the obtained results fit in the conductivity array of those used in vitro and in vivo procedures. Lastly, in vitro assays were performed to assess cell/scaffold interaction. No cytotoxic effects were observed, and neuritic extensions of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells tend to follow the preferential alignment of the scaffold fibers. |
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| Autores principais: | Pires, Laura Soares |
| Assunto: | Neural Regeneration Electrospinning PEDOT Fe(iii) Tosylate Aprotic Solvents VaporPhase Polymerization |
| Ano: | 2022 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | The self-limiting properties of neural regeneration impact millions of people as there is no avail-able procedure that allows full nerve recovery after damage, inhibiting complete function restoration and leaving patients with life-long repercussions. It has been thoroughly reported that electrical stimu-lation of nerve cells promotes nerve regeneration. Hence, this thesis work will focus on the development of a biocompatible conductive scaffold for neural regeneration. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is a conductive polymer often used in biomedical applications. In this dissertation, PEDOT was synthetized via vapor phase polymerization (VPP) using Fe(III)Tosylate (FeTos) as oxidant and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer. In literature, FeTos stock solutions of 40% w/v in butanol are predominantly used to the best of our knowledge, leaving a significant gap in the understanding of how other solvents affect the properties of PEDOT. Therefore, a plethora of aprotic solvents that dissolve the oxidant were studied. Polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds containing oxidant solutions were fabricated via electrospinning and subsequently submitted to VPP, where PEDOT is formed. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images revealed PEDOT films coating the polymeric fibers. Chemical analysis was performed by Fou-rier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and confirmed the presence of PEDOT, but also revealed a small index of monomer damage. A 2-probe test estimated the conductivity, and the results were as high as 1.50 x 10-1 S/cm. Regardless of the oxidant solvent, the obtained results fit in the conductivity array of those used in vitro and in vivo procedures. Lastly, in vitro assays were performed to assess cell/scaffold interaction. No cytotoxic effects were observed, and neuritic extensions of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells tend to follow the preferential alignment of the scaffold fibers. |
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