Nanoparticle and Polyaniline Loaded Neuroconduits: Electrical and Biological Properties

Nerve conduits based on natural Alginate (Alg) and Gelatine (Gel) polymers, doped with ZnO, Cu, and Ag nanoparticles (NPs), and electro conductive polymer Polyaniline (PANI) were synthesized. The introduction of ZnO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">NPs</inf> and Ag<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">NPs</inf> led to an increase in electroconductivity from 0.04 mS/cm to 0.18 mS/cm (almost 5 times compared to the Control). At the same time, a slight increase in the electrical conductivity of the sample with Cu<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">NPs</inf> was observed (up to 0.07mS/cm). PANI significantly increases electrical conductivity up to 1.8 mS/cm for its concentration of 0.5mg/ml. Introducing PANI to the neuro conduits granted electroconductivity. Being a conjugative polymer, PANI exhibits antioxidant activity (AOA). Cytotoxicity studies revealed that PANI - and ZnO-containing samples are non-toxic and suitable for medical use. However, AlgGelCu<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">NPs</inf> and AlgGelAg<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">NPs</inf> in the applied concentration of the metal NPs exhibit moderate toxicity.