Chondroitin sulfate doped poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) for implantable supercapacitor with high conductivity and...

Once an implantable device enters the human body, its direct contact with wounds or tissues can initiate various biological responses. These reactions may not only compromise the performance of the energy storage device but also potentially trigger inflammatory cascades, induce autoimmune reactions, and pose risks to human health. Therefore, this study aims to design supercapacitors with anti-inflammatory properties by doping poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with chondroitin sulfate (CS). CS, a known anti-inflammatory molecule, is employed as a counterion to dope PEDOT, thereby enhancing its conductivity. PEDOT: CS, an anti-inflammatory bioelectrode material, is synthesized via chemical oxidation polymerization. An integrated anti-inflammatory supercapacitor is then fabricated using in-situ polymerization, with PEDOT: CS as the electrode material and polyvinyl alcohol/tannic acid as the electrolyte. Through the incorporation of CS, the supercapacitor demonstrates outstanding electrochemical performance and biocompatibility. The PEDOT: CS electrode delivers a specific capacitance of 307.9 F g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1, and the integrated device exhibits a capacitance retention of 88.7% after 8, 000 cycles. Immunofluorescence assays reveal a decrease in CD 86 expression and a higher distribution of CD 206, indicating the creation of an anti-inflammatory environment supportive of tissue repair. The clotting time reaches 32 s, confirming excellent anticoagulant performance.