In Situ Functionalization of Polar Polythiophene-Based Organic Electrochemical Transistor to Interface In Vitro Models
Journal article, 2024

Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors are promising materials for interfacing and monitoring biological systems, with the aim of overcoming current challenges based on the mismatch between biological materials and convectional inorganic conductors. The conjugated polymer/polyelectrolyte complex poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS) is, up to date, the most widely used polymer for in vitro or in vivo measurements in the field of organic bioelectronics. However, PEDOT/PSS organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are limited by depletion mode operation and lack chemical groups that enable synthetic modifications for biointerfacing. Recently introduced thiophene-based polymers with oligoether side chains can operate in accumulation mode, and their chemical structure can be tuned during synthesis, for example, by the introduction of hydroxylated side chains. Here, we introduce a new thiophene-based conjugated polymer, p(g42T-T)-8% OH, where 8% of the glycol side chains are functionalized with a hydroxyl group. We report for the first time the compatibility of conjugated polymers containing ethylene glycol side chains in direct contact with cells. The additional hydroxyl group allows covalent modification of the surface of polymer films, enabling fine-tuning of the surface interaction properties of p(g42T-T)-8% OH with biological materials, either hindering or promoting cell adhesion. We further use p(g42T-T)-8% OH to fabricate the OECTs and demonstrate for the first time the monitoring of epithelial barrier formation of Caco-2 cells in vitro using accumulation mode OECTs. The conjugated polymer p(g42T-T)-8% OH allows organic-electronic-based materials to be easily modified and optimized to interface and monitor biological systems.

functionalized conjugated polymer

OMIECS

bio interface

OECTs

Caco-2

in situ functionalization

cell barrier

Author

Sebastian Buchmann

Karolinska Institutet

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Pepijn Stoop

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Karolinska Institutet

Kim Roekevisch

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Karolinska Institutet

Saumey Jain

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Renee Kroon

Linköping University

Christian Müller

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Mahiar M. Hamedi

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Digital Futures

E. Zeglio

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Digital Futures

Karolinska Institutet

Stockholm University

A. Herland

Karolinska Institutet

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

1944-8244 (ISSN) 1944-8252 (eISSN)

Vol. 16 40 54292-54303

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Materials Chemistry

DOI

10.1021/acsami.4c09197

PubMed

39327895

More information

Latest update

10/28/2024