Abstract: In this study, electrically conducting and biodegradable polymer scaffolds were fabricated and tested on bone cells in vitro and in the mice model. The experiments are discussed in Chapter 2 through Chapter 5. Electric field was found to have a positive effect on bone fracture healing. One of the major challenges for this project was to find the right materials to build scaffolds. The materials had to have electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, and processibility. Chapter 2 discusses block copolymers that were designed and synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. These copolymers consisted of polyaniline, polycaprolactone and polylactic acid. They were found to have good solubility in common organic solvents. Cell toxicity tests demonstrated that the copolymers also had good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Fabricating suitable scaffolds for bone cells was another challenge for this project. Chapter 3 discusses three engineering methods that were used to build scaffolds, including electrospinning, printing, and stamping. Polymer fibers were obtained using the electrospinning method. These fibers were soft, flexible, biocompatible, and suitable for soft-tissue engineering. Two-dimensional sulfonated polyaniline-based scaffolds were built with the printing method and then used in experiments, where bone cells were electrically stimulated. Three-dimensional polymer scaffolds were fabricated with the soft-lithography stamping method. These scaffolds with designed patterns had good mechanical properties and uniform shapes. All of these three types of scaffolds derived from the electrospinning, printing, and stamping methods demonstrated good biocompatibility. To evaluate the effect of an electric field on cell proliferation and differentiation, we carried out cell tests using three cells, including the human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells, mice preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, and mice bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). HOS cells were used to determine suitable electrical stimulating conditions. Chapter 4 discusses the HOS cell growth, the alkaline phosphatase activity, and the mineral deposition that were tested to evaluate the cell proliferation. We found that the best condition was alternate current (AC) with an amplitude of 400 mV and a frequency of 1 kHz. Chapter 5 discusses mice cells, preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 and bone marrow stromal cells that were tested. Both cells showed enhanced cell proliferation and increased alkaline phosphatase activity under electrical stimulation. Furthermore, they showed enhanced mineral deposition, which is a crucial feature of early-stage bone formation. These are important observations, because it is the first time that research has demonstrated that BMSC can differentiate into osteoblast on the biocompatible conducting polymer scaffolds with electrical stimulation. This may have great potential in future biomedical and therapeutic applications, such as facilitating the bone fracture healing process.

The articles included in this text highlight the important advances in polymer science that impact tissue engineering. The breadth of polymer science is well represented with the relevance of both polymer chemistry and morphology emphasized in terms of cell and tissue response.

A comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the latest research trends in conductive polymers and polymer hybrids, summarizing recent achievements. The book begins by introducing conductive polymer materials and their classification, while subsequent chapters discuss the various syntheses, resulting properties and up-scaling as well as the important applications in biomedical and biotechnological fields, including biosensors and biodevices. The whole is rounded off by a look at future technological advances. The result is a well-structured, essential reference for beginners as well as experienced researchers.

Biodegradable, polymer-based systems are playing an increasingly pivotal role in tissue engineering replacement and regeneration. This type of biology-driven materials science is slated to be one of the key research areas of the 21st century. The following aspects are crucial: the development of adequate human cell culture to produce the tissues in adequate polymer scaffold materials; the development of culture technology with which human tissues can be grown ex-vivo in 3D polymer matrices; the development of material technology for producing the degradable, 3D matrices, having mechanical properties similar to natural tissue. In addressing these and similar problems, the book contains chapters on biodegradable polymers, polymeric biomaterials, surface modification for controlling cell-material interactions, scaffold design and processing, biomimetic coatings, biocompatibility evaluation, tissue engineering constructs, cell isolation, characterisation and culture, and controlled release of bioactive agents.

"Intrinsically conducting polymers and their derivatives are being employed in tissue engineering due to their promising electrical conductivity as bioactive scaffolds for tissue regeneration (i.e., bone, nerve, muscle and cardiac tissue engineering and wound healing). Nevertheless, their mechanical brittleness and poor processability limit their applications, resulting in the development of composites, which are based on conductive polymers. The main objective of this book is to summarize and review the preparation methods; physicochemical and mechanical properties; biological properties; and latest advances of both conductive polymers and their composites for tissue engineering applications. Researchers, scientists, and upper level students working in the areas of biomedical engineering, polymers, and biomaterials science will find Electrically Conducting Polymers and Their Composites for Tissue Engineering to be an essential reference."--

This book is dedicated to the field of conductive polymers, focusing on electrical interactions with biological systems. It addresses the use of conductive polymers as the conducting interface for electrical communications with the biological system, both in vitro and in vivo. It provides an overview on the chemistry and physics of conductive polymers, their useful characteristics as well as limitations, and technologies that apply conductive polymers for medical purposes. This groundbreaking resource addresses cytotoxicity and tissue compatibility of conductive polymers, the basics on electromagnetic fields, and commonly used experimental methods. Readers will also learn how cells are cultured in vitro with conductive polymers, and how conductive polymers and living tissues interact electrically. Throughout the contents, chapter authors emphasize the importance of conductive polymers in biomedical engineering and their potential applications in medicine.

With its content taken from only the very latest results, this is an extensive summary of the various polymeric materials used for biomedical applications. Following an introduction listing various functional polymers, including conductive, biocompatible and conjugated polymers, the book goes on to discuss different synthetic polymers that can be used, for example, as hydrogels, biochemical sensors, functional surfaces, and natural degradable materials. Throughout, the focus is on applications, with worked examples for training purposes as well as case studies included. The whole is rounded off with a look at future trends.