Conducting Polymer-Infused Electrospun Fibre Mat Modified by POEGMA Brushes as Antifouling Biointerface
Open Access
- 7 December 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Biosensors
- Vol. 12 (12), 1143
- https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121143
Abstract
Biofouling on surfaces, caused by the assimilation of proteins, peptides, lipids and microorganisms, leads to contamination, deterioration and failure of biomedical devices and causes implants rejection. To address these issues, various antifouling strategies have been extensively studied, including polyethylene glycol-based polymer brushes. Conducting polymers-based biointerfaces have emerged as advanced surfaces for interfacing biological tissues and organs with electronics. Antifouling of such biointerfaces is a challenge. In this study, we fabricated electrospun fibre mats from sulphonated polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (sSEBS), infused with conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) (sSEBS-PEDOT), to produce a conductive (2.06 ± 0.1 S/cm), highly porous, fibre mat that can be used as a biointerface in bioelectronic applications. To afford antifouling, here the poly(oligo (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) brushes were grafted onto the sSEBS-PEDOT conducting fibre mats via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization technique (SI-ATRP). For that, a copolymer of EDOT and an EDOT derivative with SI-ATRP initiating sites, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) methyl 2-bromopropanoate (EDOTBr), was firstly electropolymerized on the sSEBS-PEDOT fibre mat to provide sSEBS-PEDOT/P(EDOT-co-EDOTBr). The POEGMA brushes were grafted from the sSEBS-PEDOT/P(EDOT-co-EDOTBr) and the polymerization kinetics confirmed the successful growth of the brushes. Fibre mats with 10-mers and 30-mers POEGMA brushes were studied for antifouling using a BCA protein assay. The mats with 30-mers grafted brushes exhibited excellent antifouling efficiency, ~82% of proteins repelled, compared to the pristine sSEBS-PEDOT fibre mat. The grafted fibre mats exhibited cell viability >80%, comparable to the standard cell culture plate controls. Such conducting, porous biointerfaces with POEGMA grafted brushes are suitable for applications in various biomedical devices, including biosensors, liquid biopsy, wound healing substrates and drug delivery systems.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (50975-ENDSI-UOA)
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Binding characteristics between polyethylene glycol (PEG) and proteins in aqueous solutionJournal of Materials Chemistry B, 2014
- Comparison of PrestoBlue and MTT assays of cellular viability in the assessment of anti-proliferative effects of plant extracts on human endothelial cellsJournal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, 2014
- Molecular-Weight Determination of Polymer Brushes Generated by SI-ATRP on Flat SurfacesMacromolecules, 2013
- Biofouling-resistance control of expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) membrane via atmospheric plasma-induced surface PEGylationJournal of Membrane Science, 2013
- Grafting from Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): A Simple Route to Versatile Electrically Addressable SurfacesMacromolecules, 2013
- Controlled Protein Absorption and Cell Adhesion on Polymer-Brush-Grafted Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) FilmsACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2013
- Anti-fouling PEDOT:PSS modification on glassy carbon electrodes for continuous monitoring of tricresyl phosphateSensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2012
- Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP): Current Status and Future PerspectivesMacromolecules, 2012
- Construction of a densely poly(ethylene glycol)-chain-tethered surface and its performancePolymer Journal, 2011
- Modification of polysulfone membranes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerizationApplied Surface Science, 2009