In vitro growth and differentiation of primary myoblasts on thiophene based conducting polymers

Abstract

Polythiophenes are attractive candidate polymers for use in synthetic cell scaffolds as they are amenable to modification of functional groups as a means by which to increase biocompatibility. In the current study we analysed the physical properties and response of primary myoblasts to three thiophene polymers synthesized from either a basic bithiophene monomer or from one of two different thiophene monomers with alkoxy functional groups. In addition, the effect of the dopants pTS- and ClO4- was investigated. In general, it was found that pTS- doped polymers were significantly smoother and tended to be more hydrophilic than their ClO 4- doped counterparts, demonstrating that the choice of do..