3D Printable Conducting and Biocompatible PEDOT-graft-PLA Copolymers by Direct Ink Writing

Tailor-made polymers are needed to fully exploit the possibilities of additive manufacturing, constructing complex and functional devices in areas such as bioelectronics. In this article, we show the synthesis of a conducting and biocompatible graft copolymer which can be 3D printed using direct mel...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Domínguez Alfaro, Antonio, Gabirondo Amenabar, Elena, Alegret Ramón, Nuria, De León Almazán, Claudia María, Hernández Aguirresarobe, Roberto, Vallejo Illaramendi, Ainara, Prato, Maurizio, Mecerreyes Molero, David
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/66185
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/66185
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:3D printing
cardiomyocytes
DIW
graft copolymers
PEDOT
Descripción
Sumario:Tailor-made polymers are needed to fully exploit the possibilities of additive manufacturing, constructing complex and functional devices in areas such as bioelectronics. In this article, we show the synthesis of a conducting and biocompatible graft copolymer which can be 3D printed using direct melting extrusion methods. For this purpose, graft copolymers composed by conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) PEDOT and a biocompatible polymer polylactide (PLA) were designed. The PEDOT-g-PLA copolymers were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and PLA macromonomers. PEDOT-g-PLA copolymers with different compositions were obtained and fully characterized. The rheological characterization indicated that copolymers containing bellow 20wt% of PEDOT showed the right complex viscosity values suitable for Direct Ink Writing. The 3D printing tests using the direct ink writing (DIW) methodology allowed to print different parts with different shapes with high resolution (200 μm). The conductive and biocompatible printed patterns of PEDOT-g-PLA showed excellent cell growth and maturation of neonatal cardiac myocytes co-cultured with fibroblasts.