Integration of poly(3-hexylthiophene) conductive stripe patterns with 3D tubular structures for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

3D tubular structures containing spatially distributed conductive stripe patterns of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and polylactic acid (PLA) were generated using a confined evaporative self-assembly (CESA) method on a flexible polyimide (PI) film. These tubular structures could provide contact cues to guide the growth and alignment of pre-osteoblasts and smooth muscle cells. In addition, the spatially electric signals from the conductive stripes could regulate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts. This simple and effective strategy has the potential to mimic tubular tissues and has great promise in bone, cardiac and neural tissue engineering applications.