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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.01.19.427349

Impact of sterilization on a conjugated polymer based bioelectronic patch

Yan, Y.·Travaglini, L.·Lau, K.·Rnjak-Kovacina, J.·Eslami, M.·Yang, S.·Lauto, A.·Officer, D.·Mawad, D.
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Abstract

Translation into the clinic of organic bioelectronic devices having conjugated polymers as the active material will hinge on their long-term operation in vivo. This will require the device to be subject to clinically approved sterilization techniques without a deterioration in its physical and electronic properties. To date, there remains a gap in the literature addressing the impact of this critical pre-operative procedure on the properties of conjugated polymers. This study aims to address this gap by assessing the physical and electronic properties of a sterilized porous bioelectronic patch having polyaniline as the conjugated polymer. The patch was sterilized by autoclave, ethylene oxide and gamma ({gamma}-) irradiation at 15, 25, and 50 kGy doses. Autoclaving resulted in cracking and macroscopic degradation of the patch, while patches sterilized by {gamma}-irradiation at 50 kGy exhibited reduced mechanical and electronic properties, attributed to chain scission and non-uniform crosslinking caused by the high dose irradiation. Ethylene oxide and {gamma}-irradiation at 15 and 25 kGy sterilization appeared to be the most effective at maintaining the mechanical and electronic properties of the patch, as well as inducing a minimal immune response as revealed by a receding fibrotic capsule after 4 weeks implantation. Our findings pave the way towards closing the gap for the translation of organic bioelectronic devices from acute to long-term in vivo models.

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Yan, Y., Travaglini, L., Lau, K., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Eslami, M., Yang, S., Lauto, A., Officer, D., Mawad, D.. 2021-01-20. Impact of sterilization on a conjugated polymer based bioelectronic patch. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.19.427349

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