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Biomolecule Functionalization of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Surfaces via Thiol-Maleimide Click-Chemistry
Yuhang Wu1, Junghyun Lee1, Samadhan S Nagane1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
Chemistry of Materials : a Publication of the American Chemical Society
|August 18, 2025
Summary
Attaching cholesterol to poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) surfaces via click chemistry reduces charge transport and storage. Cysteine attachment, however, preserves PEDOT
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Surface modification of conducting polymers like poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is crucial for biointerfacing applications.
- Biological moieties can optimize the interaction of PEDOT with biological systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionalize PEDOT surfaces with cholesterol and cysteine using thiol-maleimide click chemistry.
- To investigate the impact of these biomolecule attachments on PEDOT's electrochemical and surface properties.
Main Methods:
- Thiol-maleimide click chemistry for surface functionalization.
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to monitor reaction kinetics and charge transfer.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological analysis.
- Water contact angle measurements for surface hydrophobicity.
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for surface composition analysis.
Main Results:
- Cholesterol attachment led to decreased charge transfer, ion diffusion, and charge storage capacity in PEDOT films.
- Cholesterol modification significantly increased surface hydrophobicity (water contact angle from 23° to 115°).
- Cysteine attachment showed minimal impact on PEDOT's electrochemical properties and maintained hydrophilicity.
- SEM and EIS indicated that bulk PEDOT properties remained largely unaffected by the surface modifications.
Conclusions:
- Thiol-maleimide click chemistry is an effective method for surface functionalizing PEDOT with biomolecules.
- Surface modification with cholesterol alters PEDOT's electrochemical behavior and surface energy, impacting biointerfacing capabilities.
- Cysteine functionalization offers a way to modify PEDOT surfaces without compromising their electrochemical performance.
