Laccaic acid-doped polypyrrole incorporated nanofibrous mats for potential application in tissue engineering

Conductive polymers demonstrate good electrical conductivity, rendering them suitable as bioactive scaffolds for tissue regeneration; their intrinsic conductive properties enable the stimulation of cells or tissues cultured upon them through electrical signals. Nonetheless, the employment of toxic acids for the doping process of conducting polymers may constrain their applicability within the biomedical domain. Laccaic acid extract, obtained from solid shellac, was utilized for the green synthesis of polypyrrole (LAC@PPy). The synthesized nanostructured polymer was subsequently incorporated into electrospun nanofibrous mats composed of polyvinyl alcohol and glycolic acid (S3). The engineered scaffolds underwent thorough physico-chemical characterization, and their biocompatibility was meticulously evaluated. It was observed that the incorporation of LAC@PPy endowed the nanofibers with antimicrobial characteristics. The hemocompatibility analysis indicated that S3 did not induce any significant damage to red blood cells and facilitated a substantial degree of blood clotting. The scaffolds exhibited high biocompatibility towards WI-38 and L929 cell lines, promoting rapid cell proliferation, as corroborated by Phalloidin-DAPI staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs respectively. These results were further substantiated by the α-tubulin positive cytoskeleton staining assay. In conclusion, the S3 matrix serves as an artificial extracellular matrix, providing a conducive environment that is beneficial for cell adhesion and growth.