Conductive elastomer composites for fully polymeric, flexible bioelectronics
File(s)Conductive Elastomers Final R2.pdf (1.45 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Flexible polymeric bioelectronics have the potential to address the limitations of metallic electrode arrays by minimizing the mechanical mismatch at the device-tissue interface for neuroprosthetic applications. This work demonstrates the straightforward fabrication of fully organic electrode arrays based on conductive elastomers (CEs) as a soft, flexible and stretchable electroactive composite material. CEs were designed as hybrids of polyurethane elastomers (PU) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), with the aim of combining the electrical properties of PEDOT:PSS with the mechanical compliance of elastomers. CE composites were fabricated by solvent casting of PEDOT:PSS dispersed in dissolved PU at different conductive polymer (CP) loadings, from 5 wt% to 25 wt%. The formation of PEDOT:PSS networks within the PU matrix and the resultant composite material properties were examined as a function of CP loading. Increased PEDOT:PSS loading was found to result in a more connected network within the PU matrix, resulting in increased conductivity and charge storage capacity. Increased CP loading was also determined to increase the Young's modulus and reduce the strain at failure. Biological assessment of CE composites showed them to mediate ReNcell VM human neural precursor cell adhesion. The increased stiffness of CE films was also found to promote neurite outgrowth. CE sheets were directly laser micromachined into a functional array and shown to deliver biphasic waveforms with comparable voltage transients to Pt arrays in in vitro testing.
Date Issued
2019-04-01
Date Acceptance
2019-01-16
Citation
Biomaterials Science, 2019, 7 (4), pp.1372-1385
ISSN
2047-4830
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
1372
End Page
1385
Journal / Book Title
Biomaterials Science
Volume
7
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30672514
Grant Number
EP/R004498/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Materials Science
POLYURETHANE
TISSUE
STIFFNESS
NEURONS
POLYPYRROLE
PERFORMANCE
RISE
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
Cells, Cultured
Elastomers
Electric Conductivity
Electrochemical Techniques
Electrodes
Humans
Polymers
Polystyrenes
Polyurethanes
Cells, Cultured
Humans
Polyurethanes
Polystyrenes
Polymers
Elastomers
Electrodes
Electric Conductivity
Electrochemical Techniques
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry
0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
1004 Medical Biotechnology
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2019-01-16