Functionalisation of conducting polymers is an important area of research in the interest of increasing the processability of the material and bestowing additional properties. We have shown that polypyrrole phenylenes (PPyPs) polythiophene phenylenes (PThPs) allow a wide range of functionalities to be easily incorporated in its structure. This includes side chains that can undergo pre- or post-polymerisation modification using Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) grafting and through azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition ‘click’ chemistry. ATRP can be used to graft copolymers to the conducting PThP backbone, modifying the physical properties while still retaining the original electroactivity of the backbone. ‘Click’ chemistry enables the attachment of a wide range of compounds such as peptides and other biomolecules allowing the systems to be biocompatible and/or act as biosensors. We report on the synthesis and properties of highly functionalised PThPs; for example  the copolymer shown below, which has been modified to be water soluble and displays thermoresponsive properties. Alternatively an RGD-peptide ligated derivate has been used as a growth scaffold for human skin cells (HDFa) (see figure).

Highly functionalizable polypyrrole phenylenes and polythiophene phenylenes: Synthesis and application in a range of biological applications

256th National Meeting (2018)

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