PEDOT:PSS-Containing NanohydroxyapatiteChitosan Conductive Bionanocomposite Scaffold: Fabrication and Evaluation

Abstract EN

Conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(4-styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was incorporated into nanohydroxyapatite/chitosan (nHA/CS) composite scaffolds through a freezing and lyophilization technique.

The bionanocomposite conductive scaffold was then characterized using several techniques.

A scanning electron microscope image showed that the nHA and PEDOT:PSS were dispersed homogeneously in the chitosan matrix, which was also confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis.

The conductive properties were measured using a digital multimeter.

The weight loss and water-uptake properties of the bionanocomposite scaffolds were studied in vitro.

An in vitro cell cytotoxicity test was carried out using mouse fibroblast (L929) cells cultured onto the scaffolds.

Using a freezing and lyophilization technique, it was possible to fabricate three-dimensional, highly porous, and interconnected PEDOT:PSS/nHA/CS scaffolds with good handling properties.

The porosity was 74% and the scaffold’s conductivity was 9.72 ± 0.78 μS.

The surface roughness was increased with the incorporation of nHA and PEDOT:PSS into the CS scaffold.

The compressive mechanical properties increased significantly with the incorporation of nHA but did not change significantly with the incorporation of PEDOT:PSS.

The PEDOT:PSS-containing nHA/CS scaffold exhibited significantly higher cell attachment.

The PEDOT:PSS/nHA/CS scaffold could be a potential bionanocomposite conductive scaffold for tissue engineering.