Conducting Polymer Scaffolds based on PEDOT and Xanthan Gum for Live-Cell Monitoring

Abstract

Conducting polymer scaffolds can promote cell growth by electrical stimulation, which is advantageous for some specific type of cells such as neurons, muscle or cardiac cells. As an additional feature, the measure of their impedance has been demonstrated as a tool to monitor cell-growth within the scaffold. In this work, we present an innovative conducting polymer porous scaffolds based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT):xanthan gum instead of the well-known PEDOT:polystyrene sulfonate scaffolds. These novel scaffolds combine the conductivity of PEDOT, and the mechanical support and biocompatibity provided by a polysaccharide, xanthan gum. For this purpose, first the oxidative chemical polymerization of EDOT was carried out in the presence of polysaccharides leading to stable PEDOT/xanthan gum aqueous dispersions. Then by a simple freeze drying process porous scaffolds were prepared from these dispersions. Our results indicated that the porosity of the scaffolds and mechanical properties are tuned by the solids content and formulation of the initial PEDOT:polysaccharide dispersion. Scaffolds showed interconnected pore structure with tunable sizes ranging between 10 to 150 μm and Young’s moduli between 10 to 45 kPa. These scaffolds successfully support 3D cell cultures of MDCK II eGFP and MDCK II LifeAct epithelial cells, observing good cell attachment with very high degree of pore coverage. Interestingly, by measuring the impedance of the synthesized PEDOT scaffolds, the growth of the cells could be monitored.