Highly conducting and biocompatible polypyrrole/poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels

Abstract

Conducting macroporous soft cryogels were prepared by the oxidation of pyrrole within the frozen aqueous solutions of 5–8 wt.% poly(vinyl alcohol) at −24 °C. Mechanical properties of cryogels were independent of poly(vinyl alcohol) concentration, Young moduli were ≈20 kPa. The conductivity of compressed freeze-dried composites reached 18 S cm −1 thus exceeding the conductivity of polypyrrole alone. This level of conductivity was also preserved after long-term treatment with water, i.e. close to physiological conditions. In-vitro determined cytotoxicity demonstrated high potential applications due to low cytotoxicity. Moreover, compared to the steel based materials, the cryogels mimic the properties of soft tissues. All these properties are a prerequisite for the utilization in biomedical applications.