Electrochemical control of growth factor presentation to steer neural stem cell differentiation

Abstract

Let it grow: The conjugated polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was synthesized with heparin as the counterion to form a cell culture substrate. The surface of PEDOT:heparin in the neutral state associated biologically active growth factors (see picture). Electrochemical in situ oxidation of PEDOT during live cell culture decreased the bioavailability of the growth factor and created an exact onset of neural stem cell differentiation. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.