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Multifunctional Electroactive 3D-Printed Scaffolds with Polypyrrole-Based Coatings for Biomedical Applications
Felipe Olate-Moya1,2,3, Francisco Fernández-Gil3,4,5, Luis Solano6
1Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares para Aplicaciones en Salud y Biomedicina, Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear, Las Condes, Chile.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|July 10, 2025
Summary
This study developed advanced electroconductive polypyrrole and gelatin-coated polycaprolactone scaffolds. These hybrid biomaterials show enhanced conductivity and cell proliferation, enabling applications in tissue engineering and biosensing.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Intrinsic electroconductive polymers offer potential for tissue engineering and biomedical devices due to their conductivity and body-sensing capabilities.
- Challenges with current electroconductive polymers include poor processability and biocompatibility, hindering the development of effective biomaterials and devices.
- Existing poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds lack sufficient electroactivity for certain advanced biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for coating 3D-printed poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds with intrinsic electroconductive polypyrrole (PPy) and gelatin (GEL).
- To enhance the electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties of PCL scaffolds for advanced biomedical applications.
- To evaluate the potential of the hybrid scaffolds for tissue engineering, biosensing, and energy harvesting.
Main Methods:
- A two-step coating method was employed to functionalize 3D-printed PCL scaffolds with polypyrrole (PPy) and gelatin (GEL).
- The electrical conductivity, ionic conduction, surface topography, and mechanical strength of the hybrid scaffolds were characterized.
- Human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) proliferation and morphology were assessed on the coated scaffolds.
- The performance of the scaffolds as electrodes for electromyogram (EMG) measurement, piezoresistive sensors, and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) was evaluated.
Main Results:
- The PPy-GEL coated PCL scaffolds exhibited a 12-order-of-magnitude increase in electrical conductivity compared to pure PCL.
- The hybrid scaffolds showed improved ionic conduction, a rougher surface topography, and a 5% increase in compressive strength.
- Human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation was 13% higher on the coated scaffolds after 14 days, with cells adopting a rounded morphology.
- The scaffolds demonstrated potential as electrodes for EMG measurement, piezoresistive sensing, and as a TENG with an output power density of 4-6 mW m⁻².
Conclusions:
- The developed two-step coating methodology successfully created multifunctional electroactive PPy-coated PCL biomaterials.
- The enhanced hybrid scaffolds possess superior electrical and mechanical properties, along with improved biocompatibility for tissue engineering applications.
- These novel biomaterials hold significant promise for diverse applications including tissue engineering, biosensing, piezoresistive sensors, and triboelectric nanogenerators.
