Micropatterned Flexible and Conformable Biofunctional Devices Using Silk Proteins
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Micropatterned Flexible and Conformable Biofunctional Devices Using Silk Proteins Ramendra K. Pal 1, Ahmed A Farghaly 2, Maryanne M. Collinson 2, Subhas C. Kundu 3 , Vamsi K. Yadavalli 1 1
Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA. 2 Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA. 3 Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. ABSTRACT Intrinsically conductive polymers have received increased attention in the biomedical field due to their mechanical flexibility, electronic and ionic conductivity. On the other hand, bio-derived polymers such as silk proteins (fibroin and sericin) are an important set of materials to realize mechanically deformable, biocompatible and biodegradable systems. Here, we show a ‘green’ approach to fabricate micropatterned, flexible biosensors using photoreactive silk proteins in conjunction with conductive polymers. A functional ink comprised of poly(3,4ethylene dioxythiophene: poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with silk sericin as a carrier enables the formation of high resolution conducting micropatterns on a silk fibroin substrate via photolithography. The flexible and conformable organic device formed can be used to sense biomolecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. The micropatterned functional silk composites are made using an all water-based fabrication approach, and shown to be cell friendly and degradable. Such systems can find applications in implantable optical devices, bio-sensors, and bio-optoelectronic devices. INTRODUCTION Diverse life-science applications require devices that can interface with, and often mimic biological characteristics and functions [1]. An important class of uses involves sensing, recording, and stimulating physiological processes both in vivo and ex vivo [2]. Conjugated polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) are of interest for such applications due to their tactile nature, optical properties, biocompatibility, and the ability to facilitate ionic as well as electronic mobility [3]. Integrating micro- and nanofabrication techniques and biomacromolecules with these polymers is key to develop functional biodevices. However, current fabrication techniques to form conductive micro- and nano-patterns however, either have resolution issues or involve harsh processing [4]. The incorporation of conjugated polymers in natural biopolymer matrices has been shown successfully to form a new class of functional bio-friendly materials [5]. In particular, silk proteins obtained from silkworms (fibroin and sericin) are promising for such applications owing to exceptional mechanical properties, optical transparency, and stability under physiological conditions with favorable biocompatibility and biodegradability [6, 7]. Our group earlier reported a route to micropattern silk proteins by chemically modifying the proteins to accommodate pendant photoreactive groups wit
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