Electrochemical polymerization of polypyrrole–heparin nanotubes: Kinetics and morphological properties

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 2154 - 2160
• Main Authors: Serra Moreno, J., Panero, S., Scrosati, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; Conducting polypyrrole; Electrochemical synthesis; Electrochemistry; Electrodes: preparations and properties; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Heparin; Nanostructured polymer; Other electrodes; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Polymers and radiations; Nanostructured polymer; Conducting polypyrrole; Heparin; Electrochemical synthesis; Nanotube; Nanostructure; Electrochemical polymerization; Fabrication property relation; Electrodes; Conducting polymers; Cyclic voltammetry; Template polymerization; Preparation; Glycosaminoglycan; Doped polymer; Kinetics; Electrochemical reaction; Nanostructured materials; Polysaccharide; Pyrrole polymer
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2007.09.045

Electrically conductive polypyrrole (PPy) was functionalized with heparin (Hep) to improve its surface biocompatibility. Heparin, which is a bioactive polyelectrolyte, was used as the doping anion. The immobilization of Hep in PPy was facilitated by the use of a nanoporous membrane which acts as templating substrate. In this way we have synthesized nanostructured electrodes based on polypyrrole and heparin as hollow tubules. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the electrosynthesis parameters (monomer concentration and electrolyte nature) on the morphology and kinetics of the PPy nanomaterials in view of their possible, long-term biomedical applications.