Thermoplastic
Polyurethane:Polythiophene Nanomembranes for Biomedical and Biotechnological
Applications
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Abstract
Nanomembranes
have been prepared by spin-coating mixtures of a polythiophene (P3TMA)
derivative and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using 20:80, 40:60,
and 60:40 TPU:P3TMA weight ratios. After structural, topographical,
electrochemical, and thermal characterization, properties typically
related with biomedical applications have been investigated: swelling,
resistance to both hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation, biocompatibility,
and adsorption of type I collagen, which is an extra cellular matrix
protein that binds fibronectin favoring cell adhesion processes. The
swelling ability and the hydrolytic and enzymatic degradability of
TPU:P3TMA membranes increases with the concentration of P3TMA. Moreover,
the degradation of the blends is considerably promoted by the presence
of enzymes in the hydrolytic medium, TPU:P3TMA blends behaving as
biodegradable materials. On the other hand, TPU:P3TMA nanomembranes
behave as bioactive platforms stimulating cell adhesion and, especially,
cell viability. Type I collagen adsorption largely depends on the
substrate employed to support the nanomembrane, whereas it is practically
independent of the chemical nature of the polymeric material used
to fabricate the nanomembrane. However, detailed microscopy study
of the morphology and topography of adsorbed collagen evidence the
formation of different organizations, which range from fibrils to
pseudoregular honeycomb networks depending on the composition of the
nanomembrane that is in contact with the protein. Scaffolds made of
electroactive TPU:P3TMA nanomembranes are potential candidates for
tissue engineering biomedical applications