Polypyrrole biomedical applications

Bousalem, S., C. Mangeney, M.M. Chehimi, T. Basinska, B. Miksa, and S. Slomkowski. 2004. Synthesis, characterization, and potential biomedical applications of N-succinimidyl ester functionalized, polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles. Colloid Polym Sci 282 1301. 

Mattioli-Belmonte, M., F. Gabbanelli, M. Marcaccio, F. Giantomassi, R. Tarsi, D. Natali, A. Callegari, R Paolucci, and G. Biagini. 2005. Bio-characterization of tosylate-doped polypyrrole films for biomedical applications. Mater Sci Eng C 25 43. 

Tessier, D., L.H. Dao, Z. Zhang, M.W. King, and R. Guidoin. 2000. Polymerization and surface analysis of electrically conductive polypyrrole on surface-activated polyester fabrics for biomedical applications. J Biomat Sci—Polym Ed 11 87. 

Because polypyrrole operates in aqueous electrolytes at room temperature, the largest niche for conjugated polymer microactuators is biomedical applications. Commercialization efforts are underway for blood vessel coimectors, a valve to prevent urinary incontinence, and a Braille display [25,122,133]. One area that requires further research is the temperature-dependence of actuator metrics, because for biomedical applications the devices must be operated at 37°C. In PPy(DBS) microactuators, strain increases from room temperature to body temperature by 45%, and they are 250% faster, but the blocked force drops [126]. 

Use and modification of conducting polymers for biomedical applications, including general modification strategies for conducting polymers and biosensor applications of polypyrrole... 

Aznar-Cervantes S, Roca ML Martinez JG, Meseguer-Olmo L, Cenis JL, Moraleda JM, Otero TF. Fabrication of conductive electrospun silk fibroin scaffolds by coating with polypyrrole for biomedical applications. Bioelectrochemistry 2011 85 36-43. 

Many conducting polymers and their derivatives or composites have been investigated. Early conducting polymers, such as polyacetylene, suffer from instability in air and were difficult to prepare [59]. Extensive research has yielded several promising polymers and their derivatives, including polyanilines, polypyrroles, and polythiophenes [52, 59], specifically for biomedical applications [54, 60]. 

Bousalem et al. [127-129] presented a series of articles focused on the synthesis of N-succinimidyl ester-functionalized, polypyrrole-coated PS latex particles with potential biomedical applications. The latex particles were prepared by the in situ copolymerization pyrrole and the active ester-functionalized pyrrole in the presence of bare PS particles as substrates. The final functionalized latex parficles were evaluated as bioadsorbenfs of human serum albumin used as test protein. 

Bousalem, S., Yassar, A., Basinska, T., Miksa, B., Slomkowski, S., Azioune, A., and Chechini, M.M. 2003. Synthesis, characterization and biomedical applications of functionalized polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles. Polym. Adv. Technol. 14 820-5. 

Polyanitine was the first CP polymer, which was described in the mid-19th century by Henry Letheby [36]. Since then numerous intrinsically CP have been developed, among others polyacetylene, polythiophene, polypyrrole. CPs, also referred to as synthetic metals, have found applications in many fields. They are integrated for example in solar cells, rechargeable batteries and biomedical devices [37]. CPs are also very attractive for biosensors. In biosensors, CP can be used as excellent non-metallic electrodes. Numerous biosensors have been developed over the past 20 years with electrodes made of CP. The fabrication is fairly easy and flexible. This allows the biosensors to be single-use system avoiding any risk of contamination and adaptation of the biosensors to new targets can be rapidly made. They are mostly biocompatible, can easily be synthesized and can be modified for immobilization of bioelements [38]. These conductive polymers are referred to as intrinsic conductive polymers in comparison to extrinsic conductive polymers that are a polymer matrix in which some metal particles have been entrapped [39]. 

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