RESUMEN
The electrically conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy) was electrochemically deposited onto Pt microelectrodes on a polyimide (PI) substrate. Pre-modification of the PI surface with a self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane-induced anisotropic lateral growth of PPy along the PI surface and enhanced adhesive strength of the PPy film. The lateral growth of PPy film around the electrode anchored the whole film to the substrate. External stimulation of cultured cardiac myocytes was carried out using the PPy-coated microelectrode. The myocytes on the microelectrode substrate were electrically conjugated to form a sheet, and showed synchronized beating upon stimulation. The threshold charge for effective stimulation of a 0.8 cm(2) sheet of myocytes was around 0.2 microC, roughly corresponding to a membrane depolarization of 250 mV.
Asunto(s)
Materiales Biocompatibles , Galvanoplastia , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Polímeros , Pirroles , Animales , Células Cultivadas , Embrión de Pollo , Estimulación Eléctrica , MicroelectrodosRESUMEN
We have studied the possibility of making biocompatible, conductive patterns on a substrate by controlling the lateral growth rate of conducting polymers upon electropolymerization. Surface modification with heparin was found to enhance the lateral growth of polypyrrole, especially in the presence of dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and thus the micropatterning of heparin around electrodes leads to the formation of polypyrrole patterns.