Electrochemically Driven Assembly of Chitosan Hydrogels on PEDOT Surfaces

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Aruã Clayton Da Silva - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Celine Amadou-Douah - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Stavriani Koiliari - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Jinfei Du - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Riya K.K. Chauhan - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Thomas Edward Paterson - , University of Sheffield (Author)
  • Ivan Rusev Minev - , Chair of Biofunctional Polymer Materials, University of Sheffield, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Hydrogels are attracting interest in the field of bioelectronics due to their ability to serve as coatings on electrodes, improving the electrochemical interface, addressing the mechanical mismatch, and offering potential for localized drug or cell delivery. Challenges persist in integrating hydrogels with electrodes typically composed of metals and/or organic semiconductors. Here, an electrochemically driven method is introduced for direct growth of chitosan hydrogels onto poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) surfaces. The growth of ionic gelation chitosan is triggered by electrical release of a specific dopant, tripolyphosphate (TPP), from PEDOT. As a result, chitosan hydrogels grow directly from the PEDOT surface and firmly attach to it. Although this process temporarily reduces PEDOT to the benzoid structure, its unique electroactivity allows for reversible conversion to the quinoid structure after chitosan hydrogel assembly. Once assembled, the chitosan hydrogel coating can be further functionalized. The introduction of covalent cross-links and incorporation of additional interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) are explored. Electrochemical characterization reveals that an interface with favorable properties is formed between PEDOT and ionic-covalent chitosan, functionalized with a PEDOT IPN. The electroactivity of the proposed method surpasses any other PEDOT/chitosan system reported in the literature. These results underscore the potential of this material for bioelectronics applications.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2300263
Number of pages10
JournalMacromolecular materials and engineering
Volume309 (2024)
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 20 Sept 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • bioelectronics, chitosan, electrochemically driven assembly, hydrogels, PEDOT surfaces