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Catalytic Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable ...

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Polymerization <strong>and</strong> Applications <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biodegradable</strong> Polyesters<br />

Figure 1.5.8 Patterning <strong>of</strong> PPy to create microchannels for contact guidance <strong>of</strong> neurons.<br />

Phase-contrast (left) <strong>and</strong> fluorescence (right) photomicrographs <strong>of</strong> hippocampal neurons on PPy.<br />

(A, B) Cells cultured on 2 mm wide <strong>and</strong> 200nm deep PPy microchannels. (C, D) Cells cultured on<br />

unmodified PPy. The green labeling (Alexa 488) corresponds to Tau-1 (axonal marker)<br />

immunostaining. Cells polarized (i.e., established a single axon) more readily on microchannels<br />

than on unmodified PPy. Scale bar = 20 μm. Images are at the same magnification. 131<br />

PANi was another conductive polymer that had been explored for applications as novel<br />

intelligent scaffolds for cardiac <strong>and</strong>/or neuronal tissue engineering. As compared to PPy, the<br />

investigation <strong>of</strong> PANi as biomaterials developed more slowly. However, it is attracting more<br />

<strong>and</strong> more attentions due to the pr<strong>of</strong>ound underst<strong>and</strong>ing on its electrical properties. For<br />

example, Mattioli-Belmonte et al. first demonstrated that PANi was biocompatible in vitro<br />

<strong>and</strong> in long term animal studies in vivo. 132 Later, Wei et al. reported that PANi films<br />

functionalized with the bioactive lamimin-derived adhesion peptide YIGSR (Tyr-Ile-Gly<br />

Ser-Arg) exhibited significant enhanced PC-12 cell attachment <strong>and</strong> differentiation. 133

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