Oligoethylene-glycol-functionalized polyoxythiophenes for cell engineering: syntheses, characterizations, and cell compatibilities.

A series of methyl- or benzyl-capped oligoethylene glycol functionalized 2,5-dibromo-3-oxythiophenes are synthesized and successfully polymerized by either Grignard metathesis (GRIM) polymerization or reductive coupling polymerization to yield the corresponding polymers in reasonable yields and molecular weights with narrow molecular weight distribution. These synthesized polyoxythiophenes exhibit high electroactivity and stability in aqueous solution when a potential is applied. Polyoxythiophenes from different polymerization approaches display different colors after purification and spectroelectrochemical studies confirm that the difference of color is from the difference of doping state. Little cytotoxicity is observed for the polymers by in vitro cell compatibility assay. NIH3T3 fibroblast cells are well attached and proliferate on spin-coated films. These results indicate that oligoethylene-glycol-functionalized polyoxythiophenes are promising candidates as conducting biomatierals for biomedical and bioengineering applications.