Development of Electroconductive Polypyrrole-Polycaprolactone and Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(Styrenesulfonate)-Polyethylene Oxide Fibrous Scaffolds by Pressurised Gyration for Cardiac Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Cardiac patches, typically made from non-conductive polymers, are a promising treatment for myocardial infarction (MI). Introducing electroconductive fibres in these patches improves clinical outcomes, but current production methods are limited. This study aims to design and manufacture electroconductive polymeric cardiac scaffolds that closely match native tissue, using pressurised gyration (PG) and conductive polymers (CP). In this study, for the first time, fibres from polypyrrole (PPy) with polycaprolactone (PCL) in chloroform and Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with polyethylene oxide (PEO) in water, are pressure spun with varying CP concentrations (5–10% w/v) and applied pressures (0–0.2 MPa). SEM shows fibres resemble the thickness and uniformity of natural cardiac fibres, as PEDOT:PSS 5%, 0 MPa matched endomysium, PEDOT:PSS 10%, 0 MPa aligned with perimysium, and PPy 7.5%, 0 MPa mimicked epimysium fibres, with diameters of 0.38, 1.02, and 3.88 µm, respectively. Four-point probe testing reveals the closest electrical conductivity measurement to the reported cardiac chambers values is 0.22 S m⁻¹, achieved by PPy 10%, 0.2MPa. FTIR verified the absence of residual solvent, confirming conductivity is due to polymer bonds. The study confirms the produced fibres have ideal electroconductive and physicochemical properties for cardiac tissue engineering, demonstrating PG's potential as a scalable technique for electroconductive fibres manufacturing, advancing cardiac patch development and MI treatment.