Conducting polymers and hybrid derivates with specific applications as sensors and bioactive platforms
Authors:   , Fabregat Jové Georgina 
Published: September 2023

The principal focus of this Thesis is the development and design of promising hybrid nanocomposites based on conducting polymers with the main objective of achieving applications in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine. The main lines of research can be summarized as follows;1) Preparation, characterization and evaluation of N-substituted polypyrrole derivatives and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) for electrochemical detection of dopamine, one of the neurotransmitters associated to neurological disorders. In order to examine this purpose, different strategies have been taken into account such as, polymerization method using individual or even combined conducting polymers, the incorporation of gold nanoparticles, the use of soft templates, and other approachs. 2) Design of synthetic amino acids bearing an EDOT group to develop peptide-PEDOT hybrids materials based on chemical similarity concepts. The conjugates have shown that the electrical and electrochemical properties of the conducting polymers are preserved. Therefore, one of their potential applications would be as candidates for the development of platforms with bioactive and bioelectrocompatible properties. 3) Preparation and characterization of organic hybrid materials formed by an all-conjugated polythiophene backbone andwell-defined polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted chains, which have powerful applicability as active surfaces for the selective adsorption of proteins and as bioactive platforms. Among several factors which influence on the structure and properties of graft copolymers, one of the most important is the molecular weight of the PEG chains which provokes a considerably reduction in the backbone conjugation length. 4) Preparation and characterization of new bionanocomposites formed by PEDOT and CREKA, which is a biologically active linear pentapeptide. The incorporation of CREKA into a PEDOT matrix has been carried out under different experimental conditions and has shown a positive effect on the electrochemical properties of conducting polymer and indicating a favourable cellular proliferation due to the ability to bind fibrin.
Some research findings provided in this Thesis have been published or accepted for publication in scientific journals:
1. An electroactive and biologically responsive hybrid conjugate based on chemical similarity. G. Fabregat, G. Ballano, E. Armelin, L. J. del Valle, C. Cativiela and C. Alemán, Polym. Chem., 2013, 4, 1412.
2.Hybrid materials consisting of an all-conjugated polythiophene backbone and grafted hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) chains. A.-D. Bendrea, G. Fabregat, L. Cianga, F. Estrany, L. J. del Valle, I. Cianga and C. Alemán, Polym. Chem., 2013,4, 2709.
3.Polythiophene-g-poly(ethylene glycol) graft copolymers for electroactive scaffolds.A.-D. Bendrea, G. Fabregat, J. Torras, S. Maione, L. Cianga, L. J. del Valle, I. Cianga and C. Alemán, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 4135.
4.Design of hybrid conjugates based on chemical similarity.G. Fabregat, G. Ballano, J. Casanovas, A. D. Laurent, E. Armelin, Luis J. del Valle, C. Cativiela, D. Jacquemin and C. Alemán, RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 21069.
5.Controlling the morphology of poly(N -cyanoethylpyrrole). G. Fabregat, M. T. Casas, C. Alemán and E. Armelin, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2012, 116, 5064.
7.Ultrathin Films of Polypyrrole Derivatives for Dopamine Detection. G. Fabregat, E. Córdova-Mateo, E. Armelin, O. Bertran and C. Alemán. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2011, 115,14933.8.Nanostructured conducting polymer for dopamine detection.M. Martí, G. Fabregat, F. Estrany, C. Alemán and E. Armelin, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 10652.

El propósito de la presente tesis es el desarrollo y diseño de nanocompuestos híbridos basados ??en polímeros conductores para su posterior aplicación en el campo de la biotecnología y la biomedicina. Las principales líneas de investigación se resumen de la siguiente manera; 1) Preparación, caracterización y evaluación de derivados N-sustituidos de polipirrol y poli(3,4-etilendioxitiofeno ) (PEDOT) para la detección electroquímica de la dopamina, uno de los neurotransmisores asociados a trastornos neurológicos. Para examinar este propósito, diferentes estrategias han sido consideradas, tales como; el método de polimerización empleando polímeros individuales o combinados, la incorporación de nanopartículas de oro, la utilización de templates, etc. 2) Diseño de aminoácidos sintéticos unidos covalentemente con un grupo EDOT y posterior desarrollo de materiales híbridos (péptido - PEDOT). Los materiales híbridos han demostrado conservar las propiedades eléctricas y electroquímicas del polímero base, siendo posibles candidatos para el desarrollo de plataformas bioactivas y bioelectrocompatible. 3) Preparación y caracterización de materiales híbridos orgánicos formados por una cadena principal de politiofeno y cadenas injertadas de polietilenglicol (PEG), los cuales tienen una elevada aplicabilidad como superficies activas para la adsorción selectiva de proteínas y como plataformas bioactivas. 4) Preparación y caracterización de nuevos bionanocomposites formados por PEDOT y CREKA, el cual es un pentapéptido lineal biológicamente activo. La incorporación de CREKA en una matriz de PEDOT se ha llevado a cabo en diferentes condiciones experimentales, y ha demostrado tener un efecto positivo sobre las propiedades electroquímicas del polímero conductor como también proporcionar una mejora en la proliferación celular debido a la capacidad de éste para unirse a la fibrina.
Algunos resultados obtenidos en la presente Tesis han sido publicados o aceptados para su publicación en revistas científicas:
1. An electroactive and biologically responsive hybrid conjugate based on chemical similarity. G. Fabregat, G. Ballano, E. Armelin, L. J. del Valle, C. Cativiela and C. Alemán, Polym. Chem., 2013, 4, 1412.
2. Hybrid materials consisting of an all-conjugated polythiophene backbone and grafted hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) chains. A.-D. Bendrea, G. Fabregat, L. Cianga, F. Estrany, L. J. del Valle, I. Cianga and C. Alemán, Polym. Chem., 2013,4, 2709.
3. Polythiophene-g-poly(ethylene glycol) graft copolymers for electroactive scaffolds.A.-D. Bendrea, G. Fabregat, J. Torras, S. Maione, L. Cianga, L. J. del Valle, I. Cianga and C. Alemán, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 4135.
4.Design of hybrid conjugates based on chemical similarity.G. Fabregat, G. Ballano, J. Casanovas, A. D. Laurent, E. Armelin, Luis J. del Valle, C. Cativiela, D. Jacquemin and C. Alemán, RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 21069.
5. Controlling the morphology of poly(N -cyanoethylpyrrole).G. Fabregat, M. T. Casas, C. Alemán and E. Armelin, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2012, 116, 5064.
7. Ultrathin Films of Polypyrrole Derivatives for Dopamine Detection. G. Fabregat, E. Córdova-Mateo, E. Armelin, O. Bertran and C. Alemán. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2011, 115,14933.8.Nanostructured conducting polymer for dopamine detection.M. Martí, G. Fabregat, F. Estrany, C. Alemán and E. Armelin, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20,