查看文章

The advancement of tissue engineering is contingent upon the development and implementation of advanced biomaterials. Conductive polymers have demonstrated potential for use as a medium for electrical stimulation, which has shown to be beneficial in many regenerative medicine strategies including neural and cardiac tissue engineering. Melanins are naturally occurring pigments that have previously been shown to exhibit unique electrical properties. This study evaluates the potential use of melanin films as a semiconducting material for tissue engineering applications. Melanin thin films were produced by solution processing and the physical properties were characterized. Films were molecularly smooth with a roughness (R_ms) of 0.341nm and a conductivity of 7.00±1.10×10⁻⁵Scm⁻¹ in the hydrated state. In vitro biocompatibility was evaluated by Schwann cell attachment and growth as well as neurite …