Animal tissue-polypyrrole hybrid biomaterials: shrinkage temperature evaluation

The shrinkage temperature of animal tissue-polypyrrole hybrids have been evaluated. The results indicate that the tissue's shrinkage temperature behaviour is retained. The tissues do not appear to have been affected by surface layering with polypyrrole or poly(sodium 3-pyrrolyl-butanesulphonate) (PSPBS). The main influence on the shrinkage temperature appears to be the reaction conditions in producing the hybrids i.e. the solvent and the presence of FeCl3. Hybrids obtained from reactions where the solvent was acetic acid demonstrated irreversible denaturation giving a final lower shrinkage temperature than the original value. All tissues exposed to FeCl3 were found to have higher shrinkage temperatures. This has been attributed to transient coordination bonding between the metal ion and side groups on the amino acid. The single peak of PSPBS-tissue hybrids in acetic acid is probably associated with the effective penetration of the PSPBS into the tissue, permitting some interaction between the functionalities of the conducting polymer and collagen.