3D Printable Conducting and Biocompatible PEDOT-graft-PLA Copolymers by Direct Ink Writing

Abstract

Tailor-made polymers are needed to fully exploit the possibilities of additive manufacturing, constructing complex and functional devices in areas such as bioelectronics. In this article, we show the synthesis of a conducting and biocompatible graft copolymer which can be 3D printed using direct melting extrusion methods. For this purpose, graft copolymers composed by conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) PEDOT and a biocompatible polymer polylactide (PLA) were designed. The PEDOT-g-PLA copolymers were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and PLA macromonomers. PEDOT-g-PLA copolymers with different compositions were obtained and fully characterized. The rheological characterization indicated that copolymers containing bellow 20wt% of PEDOT showed the right complex viscosity values suitable for Direct Ink Writing. The 3D printing tests using the direct ink writing (DIW) methodology allowed to print different parts with different shapes with high resolution (200 μm). The conductive and biocompatible printed patterns of PEDOT-g-PLA showed excellent cell growth and maturation of neonatal cardiac myocytes co-cultured with fibroblasts.