In situ synthesis of conductive polypyrrole on electrospun cellulose nanofibers: scaffold for neural tissue engineering

This study reports the synthesis of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) on electrospun cellulose nanofibers. The cellulose nanofibers were electrospun via cellulose acetate and surface modified using in situ pyrrole polymerization. PPy adhered to the cellulose nanofiber surface as small particles and caused a 105 fold increase in conductivity compared to unmodified cellulose nanofibers. In addition, tests revealed no cytotoxic potential for the PPy coated cellulose nanofiber materials. In vitro culturing using SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells indicated enhanced cell adhesion on the PPy coated cellulose material. SH-SY5Y cell viability was evident up to 15 days of differentiation and cells adhered to the PPy coated cellulose nanofibers and altered their morphology to a more neuron like phenotype.