New fabrication technique of conductive polymer/insulating polymer composite films and evaluation of biocompatibility in neuron cultures

Poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, produces a flexible composite polymer film with electrical, optical and electrochemical properties very similar to those of polypyrrole (PPy). The rate of electrochemical polymerization depends on the diffusion rate of the electrolyte across the PVA film to the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. In particular, a solvent with a hydrophilic nature easily penetrates into the PVA film. By applying this new process, we demonstrate a unique method of forming an electrically conductive pattern in PVA film. It will be possible to develop electrodes for electrical stimulation of the nervous system using the conducting polymer, PPy. Then, by applying a similar technique, we fabricated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT/PVA, composite films and investigated their basic electrochemical properties. Moreover, in this study, in order to develop a novel cell-culture system which makes it possible to communicate with cultured cells, fibroblasts were cultured on PPy- and PEDOT-coated ITO conductive glass plates for 7 days. The result reveals that the PPy and PEDOT films support the secretory functions of the cells cultured on its surface. The PPy- and PEDOT-coated electrodes may be useful to culture the cells on.