Cellular Behaviors on 2D and 3D Crystalline PEDOT:PSS Scaffolds

In this research, we investigated cellular behaviors on conducting 2D and 3D scaffolds based on crystallized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). The crystallized PEDOT:PSS films on plastic substrates exhibited excellent electrical/electrochemical/optical characteristics, long-term underwater stability without film dissolution/delamination, and good viability for primarily cultured cardiomyocytes and neurons over several weeks. Furthermore, the highly-crystallized PEDOT:PSS with nanofibrillar surface morphology enabled dramatically enlarged surface areas and electrochemical activities, which were successfully employed to modulate cardiomyocyte beating via direct electrical stimulation. In parallel, we prepared 3D conductive scaffolds based on crystallized PEDOT:PSS fiber mesh networks and examined cellular behaviors on top in comparison with those on thin PEDOT:PSS films.