Electroactivity and biocompatibility of polypyrrole-hyaluronic acid multi-walled carbon nanotube composite

Electroactivity of polypyrrole hyaluronic acid, electropolymerized in the presence of oxidized carbon nanotubes (PPyHA-CNT) was studied in situ by electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) in physiological electrolyte solution. In situ Raman spectroscopic and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) studies were conducted on layers of the polymer grown on AT-cut 5 MHz quartz crystals. Human adipose stem cell (ASC) attachment and viability were studied by Live/Dead staining, and the proliferation was evaluated by WST-1 Cell proliferation assay for polypyrrole samples electropolymerized on titanium. According to cyclic voltammetry, the measured specific capacitance of the material on gold is roughly 20% of the reference polypyrrole dodecylbenzene sulfonate (PPyDBS). Electrochemical-QCM (EC-QCM) analysis of a 210-nm thick film reveals that the material is very soft G' approximately 100 kPa and swells upon reduction. EC-AFM of samples polymerized on microelectrodes show that there are areas of varying electroactivity, especially for samples without a hydrophopic backing PPyDBS layer. AFM line scans show typically 20-25% thickness change during electrochemical reduction. Raman spectroscopic analysis suggests that the material supports noticeable polaron conduction. Biocompatibility study of the PPyHA-CNT on titanium with adipose stem cells showed equal or better cell attachment, viability, and proliferation compared with the reference polylactide.