Nanomembranes and Nanofibers from Biodegradable Conducting Polymers

Abstract

Abstract:This review provides a current status report of the field concerning preparation of fibrous mats based on biodegradable (e.g., aliphatic polyesters such as polylactide or polycaprolactone) and conducting polymers (e.g., polyaniline, polypirrole or polythiophenes). These materials have potential biomedical applications (e.g., tissue engineering or drug delivery systems) and can be combined to get free-standing nanomembranes and nanofibers that retain the better properties of their corresponding individual components. Systems based on biodegradable and conducting polymers constitute nowadays one of the most promising solutions to develop advanced materials enable to cover aspects like local stimulation of desired tissue, time controlled drug release and stimulation of either the proliferation or differentiation of various cell types. The first sections of the review are focused on a general overview of conducting and biodegradable polymers most usually employed and the explanation of the most suitable techniques for preparing nanofibers and nanomembranes (i.e., electrospinning and spin coating). Following sections are organized according to the base conducting polymer (e.g., Sections 4-6 describe hybrid systems having aniline, pyrrole and thiophene units, respectively). Each one of these sections includes specific subsections dealing with applications in a nanofiber or nanomembrane form. Finally, miscellaneous systems and concluding remarks are given in the two last sections. OPEN ACCESSPolymers 2013, 5 1116

Perspective potential of polymer-based biosensor chips in food industry and clinical diagnostics

“…Since the polymers are capable of enhancing stability and sensitivity of biosensor, they are mostly used in designing the receptors for binding of biological compounds such as antigens, antibodies, microorganisms, enzymes, or some other substrates [1]. The polymer materials are characterized by biocompatibility, biodegradability, and electrical conductivity, which makes them applicable in construction of optical, electrochemical, or enzyme biosensors [2,3]. There are two types of polymers: natural and synthetic.…”

“…The polyurethane layer that can be part of glucose biosensor is responsible for biosensor sensitivity and intensity of detection signal [11,12]. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) [3,[15][16][17][18] Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) [4,5,18,24,[27][28][29][30][31] Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene) [24][25][26] Poly(3-aminobenzoic acid) [24,[27][28][29] Poly(pyrrole-3--carboxylic acid) [24,30,31] The polymers which are distinguished by their biocompatibility and biodegradability are especially applicable in medical purposes. Here we are talking about synthetic polymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and its copolymer (e.g., poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)), which are approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and commonly used in drug targeting and biosensor production.…”

Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization on Compact Multilayer nHA-PCL Electrospun Scaffolds in a Perfusion Bioreactor

“…It is a simple and versatile method that can fabricate porous nanofibrous structures with large surface-to-volume ratio, interconnected pores and high porosity (7)(8)(9). Briefly, a basic electrospinning system usually consists of three major parts: a high voltage power supply, a spinneret, and a grounded collector (usually a metal screen, plate, or rotating mandrel).…”

Fabrication of Bio-friendly Polymer Nanosheets for Biomedical Applications

“…innovative wound dressings for incised organs and burned skin, and aqueous surface modifiers to provide biocompatible surfaces. We focus on these aspects because abundant excellent reviews on the self-standing nanosheets and their applications have been published previously [1,23].…”