Materials for Health and Biomedical Devices

The electroactive materials (actuators) developed at LPPI can find numerous applications in health and biomedical devices.
Indeed, these electroactive polymers are (often) biocompatible et downsizable, can generate deformation and mechanical work under low operating voltage (~1V) et can rely on physiological/biological fluids as ionic source.

Electroactive polymer actuators presenting electrically controlled bending deformation (bi- or tri-layer actuators) are studied to develop biomedical devices whose curvature could be controled. For instance, by the functionalization of catheters or cochlear implants, we are aiming at facilitating the navigation or the implantation steps realized by the surgeon, in order to (i) reduce the operation time, (ii) increase the rate of success and (iii) decrease the tissue damages to the patient.

Moreover, by functionalizing ultraporeux materials (polyHIPEs, cryogels, …) with an electroactive polymer, it becomes possible to develop « 4D » electroactive scaffolds for dynamic cell culture combining electrical and mechanical stimulation, for mechanotransduction studies.

Video of 4D cell stimulation (confocal microscope, speed x20)

Keywords : electroactive polymers, microactuators, 3D and 4D materials, cell culture, biomedical devices, implants, piezionic skin

Selection of recent papers (or patents)

Franziska Hahn, Ana Ferrandez-Montero, Mélodie Queri, Cédric Vancaeyzeele, Cédric Plesse, Rémy Agniel, Johanne Leroy-Dudal, Interfaces Electroactive 4D Porous Scaffold Based on Conducting Polymer as a Responsive and Dynamic In Vitro Cell Culture Platform, ACS Appl. Mater. 2024, 16, 5, 5613–5626, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c16686
Yuta Dobashi, Dickson Yao, Yael Petel, Tan Ngoc Nguyen, Mirza Saquib Sarwar, Yacine Thabet, Cliff L. W. Ng, Ettore Scabeni Glitz, Giao Tran Minh Nguyen, Cédric Plesse, Frédéric Vidal, Carl A. Michal, John D. W. Madden, Piezoionic mechanoreceptors: Force-induced current generation in hydrogels, Science, 2022, 376, 6592, 502-507, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw1974
A. Ferrandez-Montero, B. Carlier, R. Agniel, J. Leroy-Dudal,C. Vancaeyzeele, C. Plesse, 4D smart porous scaffolds based on the polyHIPE architecture and electroactive PEDOT, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021, 9, 12388-12398 https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TC01846A
M. Farajollahi, V. Woehling, C.Plesse, GTM. Nguyen, F. Vidal, F. Sassani, VXD Yang, JDW Madden, Self-contained tubular bending actuator driven by conducting polymers, Sensors and Actuators A – Physical, 2016, 249, 45-56 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2016.08.006


 

Based on our know-how in the development of three-dimensional multi-component materials, we develop materials for non-implantable medical devices. For example:

• Manipulable and biodegradable materials have been developed by reinforcing a fibrin network with a biodegradable and biocompatible synthetic polymer network. These materials, implanted in a rat, did not cause any inflammation for one month. They can also be synthesized from plasma. They can be used as a base for wound dressings

• We are developing new interface polymer materials for medical imaging. The idea is to eliminate the need for gel applied to the patient's skin.

Keywords : Fibrin, Interpenetrating Polymer networks (IPN), Solvogel

Selection of recent papers (or patents)

• O. Gsib, M. Deneufchatel, M. Goczkowski, M. Trouillas, M. Resche–Guigon, S.A. Bencherif, O. Fichet, J.J. Lataillade, V. Larreta-Garde, C. Egles, “FibriDerm: Interpenetrated Fibrin scaffolds for the construction of Human Skin Equivalents for full thickness burns”. Innovation and Research in BioMedical Engineering (IRBM), 39 (2) (2018) 103-108. DOI : 10.1016/j.irbm.2017.10.006
• M. Deneufchâtel, V. Larreta-Garde, O. Fichet, « Polyethylene glycol-albumin/fibrin interpenetrating polymer networks with adaptable enzymatic degradation for tissue engineering applications” Polymer Degradation and Stability 152 (2018) 218-227 DOI:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2018.04.023
• O. Gsib, J.L. Duval, M. Goczkowski, M. Deneufchatel, O. Fichet, V. Larreta-Garde, S.A. Bencherif, C. Egles “Evaluation of Fibrin-based Interpenetrating Polymer Networks as Potential Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering” Nanomaterials 7(12) (2017) p. E436. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7120436.

Chemical sensors and biosensors are devices that detect and quantify chemical or biological substances in various environments (water, air, biological fluids, etc.). These devices are increasingly used to perform early diagnostics on site and/or autonomously and find applications in a wide range of fields, ranging from health of course to the environment, agriculture or even security to monitor threats of exposure to chemical or biological risks.

These sensors consist of a sensitive layer capable of interacting specifically with the compound to be detected and a transducer capable of converting the recognition into a measurable signal. The laboratory's skills in surface modification (spin coating, self-assembled layers, electrodeposition, electropolymerization, etc.) and synthesis of sensitive or stimulable materials (polymers, nanomaterials) allow it to develop sensitive layers adapted to the chosen target-transducer pair and improve the sensitivity of the device.

For biosensor applications, the developments carried out in the laboratory focus on the amplification of the transduction signal using nanomaterials to detect low concentrations and/or analyze smaller volumes and the use of materials with a hierarchical porous structure at different scales (polyHIPE, porous carbon, organic networks (COF/MOF)) to increase the specific surface area and have an interconnected porous network in which biomolecules can easily diffuse. The laboratory is also developing new biosensors, mainly electrochemical with an opening towards biosensors based on organic electrolytic gate field effect transistors (EGOFET). Electrochemical biosensors include electroactive materials (nanoparticles, electronically conductive polymers) at the level of the sensitive layer and acting as a redox probe integrated into the sensitive layer. The challenge is to develop sensors without a labeling step that are more suitable for integration into devices intended for self-diagnostics. Concerning EGOFET type biosensors, the recognition of analytes on the gate electrode induces a disturbance at the level of its electrochemical double layer, and consequently, a variation of the current crossing the organic semiconductor layer between the source and the drain. We work not only on the modification of the electrode grid to increase the sensitivity/selectivity of the detection but also on the stability of the semiconductor layer by using ionic liquid polymers.

The chemical sensor applications developed at LPPI are based on the variations of electrical or optical properties of layers of electronically conductive polymers or liquid crystals during their interaction with gaseous compounds or aerosols. They are intended for the detection of molds and pesticides combine with self-standing properties, self-healing ability, flexibility and stretchability.

Keywords: Nanomaterials, porous materials, self-assembled monolayers, electrodeposition, electrochemistry, optics.

Selection of recent papers (or patents)

• Kock, B.J., Du Plooy, J., Cloete, R.A., Jahed, N., Pham-Truong, T-N., Ardense, C., Pokpas, K., A Simplistic Label‐Free Electrochemical Immunosensing Approach for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Anti‐SARS‐COV‐2 Nucleocapsid Antibodies, ChemistrySelect, 2024, 9, e202400409, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202400409
• Upan, J., Yougsives, N., Tuantranont, A., Karuwan, C., Banet, P., Aubert, P.-H., Jakmunee, J., A simple label‑free electrochemical sensor for sensitive detection of alpha‑fetoprotein based on specific aptamer immobilized platinum nanoparticles/ carboxylated‑graphene oxide, Scientific Report, 2021, 11, 11969 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93399-y
• Upan, J., Banet, P., Aubert, P.-H., Ounnunkad, K., Jakmunee, J., Sequential injection-differential pulse voltammetric immunosensor for hepatitis B surface antigen using the modified screen-printed carbon electrode, Electrochim. Acta, 2020, 349, 136335 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136335
• Ngema, X.T., Baker, P., Ajayi, F., Aubert, P.-H., Banet, P., Polyamic acid (PAA) immobilized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as an electrochemical platform for the sensing of tuberculosis (TB) antibodies and hydrogen peroxide determination, Analytical Letters, 2020, 53:1, 1–20 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2019.1636058
• Geagea, R., Aubert, P.-H., Banet, P., Sanson, N., Signal enhancement of electrochemical biosensors via direct electrochemical oxidation of silver nanoparticle labels coated with zwitterionic polymers, Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 402–405 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1039/c4cc07474b