A One Step Procedure toward Conductive Suspensions of Liposome‐Polyaniline Complexes

Abstract

Interaction of conjugated polymers with liposomes is an attractive approach that benefits from both systems’ characteristics such as electroactivity and enhanced interaction with cells. Conjugated polymer‐liposome complexes have been investigated for bioimaging, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy. Their fabrication has largely been achieved by multistep procedures that require first the synthesis and processing of the conjugated polymer. Here, a new one step fabrication approach is reported based on in situ polymerization of a conjugated monomer precursor around liposomes. Polyaniline (PANI) doped with phytic acid is synthesized via oxidative polymerization in the presence of 1,2‐dioleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) vesicles to produce a conductive aqueous suspension of Liposome‐PANI complexes. PANI interacts with liposomes without disrupting the bilayer as shown using differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence quenching studies of the hydrophobic Nile red probe. The electronic conductivity of the Liposome‐PANI complexes, which stems from the doped PANI accessible on the liposome surface, is confirmed using conductive atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Further, short‐term in vitro cell studies show that the complexes colocalize with the cell membrane without reducing cell proliferation. This study presents a novel fabrication route to conductive suspensions of conjugated polymer‐liposome complexes suitable for potential applications at the biointerface.

A conjugated polymer‐liposome complex: A contiguous water‐stable, electronic, and optical interface

“…Recently, we have introduced a one‐step fabrication approach for the development of liposomes decorated with the conjugated polymer PANI. [ 47 ] We added the monomer aniline, the dopant phytic acid, and the oxidant ammonium persulfate to the liposomes suspended in water. PANI, in its doped state, was formed around the liposome, thereby producing a conductive conjugated polymer‐liposome complex.…”

Macromolecular Bioelectronics

“…Mawad and colleagues describe the one‐step fabrication approach of conjugated polymer‐liposome complexes for bioimaging, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy. [ 20 ] Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized by oxidative polymerization in the presence of phytic acid and 1,2‐dioleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphatidylcholine vesicles to produce the aqueous suspension of PANI‐liposome complexes. These complexes exhibited the appropriate ranges of electrical conductivity and cell viability suitable for electrophysiological modulation of cells or electroresponsive tissues without the disruption of liposome bilayer structures.…”