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Electric field stimulation through a biodegradable polypyrrole‐ co ‐polycaprolactone substrate enhances neural cell growth
Author(s) -
Nguyen Hieu T.,
Sapp Shawn,
Wei Claudia,
Chow Jacqueline K.,
Nguyen Alvin,
Coursen Jeff,
Luebben Silvia,
Chang Emily,
Ross Robert,
Schmidt Christine E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.34925
Subject(s) - polycaprolactone , materials science , polypyrrole , plga , electrode , biomedical engineering , substrate (aquarium) , axon , polyester , nanotechnology , composite material , polymerization , polymer , medicine , anatomy , chemistry , oceanography , geology , nanoparticle
Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are FDA‐approved devices used to bridge gaps across severed nerve cables and help direct axons sprouting from the proximal end toward the distal stump. In this article, we present the development of a novel electrically conductive, biodegradable NGC made from a polypyrrole‐ block ‐polycaprolactone (PPy‐PCL) copolymer material laminated with poly(lactic‐ co ‐glycolic acid) (PLGA). The PPy‐PCL has a bulk conductivity ranging 10–20 S/cm and loses 40 wt % after 7 months under physiologic conditions. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) grown on flat PPy‐PCL/PLGA material exposed to direct current electric fields (EF) of 100 mV/cm for 2 h increased axon growth by 13% (± 2%) toward either electrode of a 2‐electrode setup, compared with control grown on identical substrates without EF exposure. Alternating current increased axon growth by 21% (±3%) without an observable directional preference, compared with the same control group. The results from this study demonstrate PLGA‐coated PPy‐PCL is a unique biodegradable material that can deliver substrate EF stimulation to improve axon growth for peripheral nerve repair. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 2554–2564, 2014.