3-Dimensionally ordered macroporous PEDOT ion-exchange resins prepared by vapor phase polymerization for triggered drug delivery: Fabrication and characterization

• This paper reports a simple fabrication strategy towards 3-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films via vapor phase polymerization (VPP) coupled with colloidal crystal templating. PEDOT was synthesized by VPP over a colloidal crystal thin film composed of monodisperse polystyrene colloids functionalized with a Fe(III) tosylate catalyst, after which the polystyrene template was selectively removed. The resulting 3DOM PEDOT films comprised a face-centered cubic array of 280-290 nm spherical macropores in a PEDOT matrix, around 5-6 mu m thick. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to probe electrochemistry and highlighted the merits of the fabrication strategy introduced here; the 3DOM PEDOT films exhibit a 2.9-fold increase in electrochemically available surface area compared to the non-templated PEDOT films. As a demonstration of functionality, ion-exchange of the dopant tosylate for the anionic drug dexamethasone phosphate (dexP(-)) was explored. Loading by passive ion exchange was three-fold higher for 3DOM PEDOT compared with non-templated PEDOT. Notably, CV-driven ion exchange was more efficient to load drug into the polymer than passive ion exchange, and occurred to similar extents for both non-templated PEDOT and 3DOM PEDOT structures. Following loading, minimal dexP(-) release was observed in the absence of an electrical stimulus, while dexP(-) release was triggered upon application of a suitable electrical stimulus. 3DOM PEDOT prepared by VPP thus represents a promising material for use as an ion exchange resin with drug loading achieved subsequent to polymerization and electrically triggered drug release demonstrated. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Conducting polymer; Stimuli-responsive drug delivery; Cyclic voltametric driven ion-exchange; Electro-responsive; Electrically triggered release

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)