Redox Cycling for Passive Modification of Polypyrrole Surface Properties: Effects on Cell Adhesion and Proliferation

• Published in: Advanced healthcare materials 2013-04, Vol.2 (4), p.591-598
• Main Authors: Sivaraman, Kartik M., Özkale, Berna, Ergeneman, Olgaç, Lühmann, Tessa, Fortunato, Giuseppino, Zeeshan, Muhammad Arif, Nelson, Bradley J., Pané, Salvador
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesion; Adsorption; Animals; Benzenesulfonates - chemistry; Biofouling; Cell adhesion; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cycles; Electrodeposition; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; NIH 3T3 Cells; Oxidation-Reduction; polyethylene glycol; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Polymers - pharmacology; polypyrrole; Pyrroles - chemistry; Pyrroles - pharmacology; redox cycling; Rhodamines - chemistry; Surface chemistry; Surface Properties; Wettability; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2192-2640; 2192-2659
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201200282

The surface properties of electrodeposited poly(pyrrole) (Ppy) doped with sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate (NaDBS) are modified by two methods: addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) during the electrodeposition and through redox cycling post electrodeposition. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to ascertain PEG incorporation and to analyze the change in the oxidation state of the polymer. Anodic cycling resulted in the formation of micrometer‐sized surface cracks which increased the amount of Rhodamine‐B dye adsorbed onto the surface, and played a role in decreasing the wettability of the surface. The change in surface wettability caused by these cracks was mitigated by the presence of PEG in the Ppy matrix. Compared to the incorporation of PEG, redox cycling was more effective in passively modulating the adhesion of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells on the Ppy surface. Based on the attenuation of surface polarity of the Ppy surfaces by the incorporated PEG, a mechanism is proposed to explain the observed cell adhesion behavior. Biofouling refers to the adverse impact of adsorption and adhesion of biological entities like proteins and cells onto devices implanted inside the human body. In this work, the synthesis and the electrochemical modification of poly(pyrrole) to reduce biofouling is studied. When poly(pyrrole) is cathodically doped with sodium ions, cells do not adhere on the surface due to an increase of hydrophilicity.