Conductive Polymer PEDOT:PSS-Based Platform for Embryonic Stem-Cell Differentiation

0555521 - BFÚ 2023 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Šafaříková, Eva - Ehlich, J. - Stříteský, S. - Vala, M. - Weiter, M. - Pacherník, J. - Kubala, Lukáš - Víteček, Jan
Conductive Polymer PEDOT:PSS-Based Platform for Embryonic Stem-Cell Differentiation.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Roč. 23, č. 3 (2022), č. článku 1107. E-ISSN 1422-0067
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA21-01057S
Institutional support: RVO:68081707
Keywords : electrical-stimulation * cardiac differentiation * oxygen reduction * biocompatibility * stability * fields * repair
OECD category: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Impact factor: 5.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/3/1107

Organic semiconductors are constantly gaining interest in regenerative medicine. Their tunable physico-chemical properties, including electrical conductivity, are very promising for the control of stem-cell differentiation. However, their use for combined material-based and electrical stimulation remains largely underexplored. Therefore, we carried out a study on whether a platform based on the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) can be beneficial to the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The platform was prepared using the layout of a standard 24-well cell-culture plate. Polyethylene naphthalate foil served as the substrate for the preparation of interdigitated gold electrodes by physical vapor deposition. The PEDOT:PSS pattern was fabricated by precise screen printing over the gold electrodes. The PEDOT:PSS platform was able to produce higher electrical current with the pulsed-direct-current (DC) electrostimulation mode (1 Hz, 200 mV/mm, 100 ms pulse duration) compared to plain gold electrodes. There was a dominant capacitive component. In proof-of-concept experiments, mESCs were able to respond to such electrostimulation by membrane depolarization and elevation of cytosolic calcium. Further, the PEDOT:PSS platform was able to upregulate cardiomyogenesis and potentially inhibit early neurogenesis per se with minor contribution of electrostimulation. Hence, the present work highlights the large potential of PEDOT:PSS in regenerative medicine.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0340261