Fig. 5: Injectable conductive bioadhesives for implantable bioelectronics applications.
a Formulation of bioadhesives involving gelatin-catechol (GelCA), synthesized via coupling caffeic acid to gelatin, as hydrogel bioadhesive matrices. PEDOT doped with PSS and AlgS are incorporated separately within GelCA at their dispersibility limits (4 and 20% w/v, respectively) and crosslinked ionically by Fe3+ for pH sensing in wound monitoring applications. b Hydrogel pre-polymer composites of GelCA (12% w/v) with PEDOT:PSS (4% w/v) and PEDOT:AlgS (20% w/v) after shaking on a vortex for 1 min. c Viscosity-shear rate of injectable bioadhesives. d Impedance spectroscopy of injectable bioadhesive pre-polymers. e Ex vivo porcine lung burst pressure adhesion testing of hydrogels (n = 3 independent samples). f Clotting time assays in terms of relative decrease in coagulation time for the assessment of hemostatic activity after hydrogel crosslinking. Clotting time for blank controls was 21.7 ± 0.6 min. Statistical analysis was performed via one-way ANOVA (n = 3 independent samples). g In vitro pH sensitivity of conductive bioadhesives obtained by chronoamperometric testing of hydrogels in various pH levels. The inset shows current variations with time at pH 7 (n = 3 independent samples). h In vivo monitoring of wound infection using conductive bioadhesive hydrogels. The data in (e–h) represents the mean and the standard deviation (n = 3 independent samples).
