Ultra-low percolation threshold POSS-PCL/graphene electrically conductive polymer: Neural tissue engineering nanocomposites for neurosurgery

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2019-11, Vol.104, p.109915-109915, Article 109915
• Main Authors: Nezakati, Toktam, Tan, Aaron, Lim, Jing, Cormia, Robert D., Teoh, Swee-Hin, Seifalian, Alexander M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Conductive polymer; DNA - metabolism; Electric Conductivity; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Graphene; Graphical representations; Graphite - chemistry; Materials science; Multilayers; Nancomposite; Nanocomposites; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nerve Tissue - physiology; Neural tissue engineering; Neurosurgery; Organic chemistry; Organosilicon Compounds - chemistry; Percolation; Percolation threshold; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Polycaprolactone; Polyesters - chemistry; Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane; Polymers; POSS-PCL/graphene; Rats, Wistar; Schwann Cells - metabolism; Spectroscopy; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Surface Properties; Tensile Strength; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.109915

An ultra-low percolation threshold electrically conductive polymer nanocomposite incorporating graphene into a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane polycaprolactone (POSS-PCL/graphene) is described in this paper. Multilayer graphene flakes were homogeneously dispersed into POSS-PCL at 0.08, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 4.0 wt% concentrations. The impedance spectroscopy of 0.08 wt% and higher concentration of graphene in POSS-PCL represented major improvement in conductivity over pristine POSS-PCL. The percolation threshold occurred at 0.08 wt% graphene concentration, and at 4.0 wt% the electrical conductivity exceeded 10−4 Scm−1. Furthermore, the chemical, morphological, and mechanical of the POSS-PCL/graphene with various graphene concentrations were investigated. Finally, neural cells cultured on all POSS-PCL/graphene constructs indicated higher metabolic activity and cell proliferation in comparison with pristine POSS-PCL. Herein, we demonstrate a method of developing a neural-compatible and electrically conductive polymer nanocomposite that could potentially function as a neural tissue engineered platform technology for neurological and neurosurgical applications. •Electrically conductive polymers have the potential to function as scaffolds for neural tissue engineering applications•We have developed an ultra-low percolation threshold electrically conductive polymer made of a nanocomposite polymer infused with graphene•The resultant polymer, POSS-PCL/graphene is not only electrically conductive, but also biocompatible to neuronal Schwann cells, and also displayed excellent mechanical properties•Herein we describe a facile method of synthesizing a biocompatible and mechanically robust electrically conductive polymer, with a potential for it being a platform technology for the basis of neural tissue engineering applications.