Built-in Electric Field with Nanoscale Distinction for Cell Behavior Regulation

Junqi Chen, Weiping Li, Lei Zhou, Zhengnan Zhou, Guoxin Tan, Dafu Chen, Renxian Wang, Peng Yu, Chengyun Ning

Index: 10.1039/C8TB00063H

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Abstract

To mimic the electrical properties of collagen fibrils on the bone surface, a built-in nanoscale electric field is formed on the surface of a polypyrrole (PPy) coating-decorated potassium-sodium niobate (KNN) piezoceramic. With the fabrication strategy, the piezoelectricity of KNN after polarization results in the formation of an electric field on the surface, which could be regulated by adjusting the polarization process. Then, conductive PPy nano arrays (CPNAs) are obtained on the surface of the KNN piezoceramics. The conductive PPy transports the electric field to the coating surface, and the nano array morphology results in variations in the surface potential, leading to a built-in nanoscale electric field. Biological characterization indicates that CPNAs have acceptable biocompatibility. Moreover, the nanoscale electric field regulates cell behavior, and the relatively high surface potential promotes cell proliferation, attachment and osteogenic differentiation.