Abstract
3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds functionalized with conductive polymers have demonstrated significant potential in regenerative applications for their structural tunability, physiochemical compatibility, and electroactivity. Controllably generating conductive hydrogels with fine features, however, has proven challenging. Here, micro-continuous liquid interface production (μCLIP) method is utilized to 3D print poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) hydrogels. With a unique in-situ polymerization approach, a sulfonated monomer is first incorporated into the hydrogel matrix and subsequently polymerized into a conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly(4-(2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-2-ylmethoxy)-butane-1 sulfonic acid sodium salt (PEDOT-S). Rod structures are fabricated at different crosslinking levels to investigate PEDOT-S incorporation and its effect on bulk hydrogel electronic and mechanical properties. After demonstrating that PEDOT-S does not significantly compromise the structures of the bulk material, pHEMA scaffolds are fabricated via μCLIP with features smaller than 100 µm. Scaffold characterization confirms PEDOT-S incorporation bolstered conductivity while lowering overall modulus. Finally, C2C12 myoblasts are seeded on PEDOT-pHEMA structures to verify cytocompatibility and the potential of this material in future regenerative applications. PEDOT-pHEMA scaffolds promote increased cell viability relative to their non-conductive counterparts and differentially influence cell organization. Taken together, this study presents a promising new approach for fabricating complex conductive hydrogel structures for regenerative applications.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2200103 |
| Journal | Macromolecular Bioscience |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2022 |
Funding
This work was primarily supported by Office for Naval Research (ONR) YIP (Grant No. N00014-20-12777). R.K. was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health Training Grant (Grant No. T32GM008449) through Northwestern University's Biotechnology Training Program. J.T. was primarily supported by an ONR YIP (Grant No. N00014-20-1-2777). C.C., H.T.O.W., G.A., and C.S. were supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. R01HL141933 and R01DE030480). G.A. and A.P. acknowledge support from the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering at Northwestern University. This work made use of the EPIC facility of Northwestern University's NUANCE Center, which has received support from the SHyNE Resource (Grant No. NSF ECCS2025633), the IIN, and Northwestern's MRSEC program (Grant No. NSF DMR-1720139). This work made use of the DMA at the MatCI Facility supported by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation (Grant No. DMR-1720139) at the Materials Research Center of Northwestern University. Absorbance measurements were performed in the Analytical bioNanoTechnology Core Facility of the Simpson Querrey Institute at Northwestern University. ANTEC is currently supported by the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (Grant No. NSF ECCS-2025633). Imaging work was performed at the Northwestern University Center for Advanced Microscopy generously supported by NCI CCSG P30 CA060553 awarded to the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. This work made use of the IMSERC NMR facility at Northwestern University, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-2025633), Int. Institute of Nanotechnology, and Northwestern University. This work was primarily supported by Office for Naval Research (ONR) YIP (Grant No. N00014\u201020\u201012777). R.K. was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health Training Grant (Grant No. T32GM008449) through Northwestern University's Biotechnology Training Program. J.T. was primarily supported by an ONR YIP (Grant No. N00014\u201020\u20101\u20102777). C.C., H.T.O.W., G.A., and C.S. were supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. R01HL141933 and R01DE030480). G.A. and A.P. acknowledge support from the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering at Northwestern University. This work made use of the EPIC facility of Northwestern University's NUANCE Center, which has received support from the SHyNE Resource (Grant No. NSF ECCS2025633), the IIN, and Northwestern's MRSEC program (Grant No. NSF DMR\u20101720139). This work made use of the DMA at the MatCI Facility supported by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation (Grant No. DMR\u20101720139) at the Materials Research Center of Northwestern University. Absorbance measurements were performed in the Analytical bioNanoTechnology Core Facility of the Simpson Querrey Institute at Northwestern University. ANTEC is currently supported by the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (Grant No. NSF ECCS\u20102025633). Imaging work was performed at the Northwestern University Center for Advanced Microscopy generously supported by NCI CCSG P30 CA060553 awarded to the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. This work made use of the IMSERC NMR facility at Northwestern University, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS\u20102025633), Int. Institute of Nanotechnology, and Northwestern University.
Keywords
- 3D-printing
- conductive hydrogels
- conductive polymers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
- Biomaterials
- Polymers and Plastics
- Materials Chemistry