Conductive polymers are a groundbreaking class of materials commonly examined in medical research focused on remote healthcare sensors. They share the mechanical properties of a classical polymer, as well as the electronic properties of metals. This allows them to function as flexible, lightweight, and highly efficient components in both wearable and implantable sensor technologies.
Though research has shown some brilliant findings, most of the polymer sensors presented are only partially, or not biologically compatible with the human body. Not many polymer sensors have been tested or proven to be safe for wide applications outside of the lab. With its great features and potential for success, it has become crucial to ensure that the polymer matrices used in bio-sensing are biocompatible and safe for the user. This work demonstrates a new conductive polymer matrix composed of bovine gelatin, Whey Protein Isolate (WPI), Polyanilline (PANI) and Phytic Acid (PA) as a soft, hydrogel-like material. Each polymer matrix sample contains 2.5 g of PA and 9g of bovine gelatin, as it showed to be the optimal amount. Each polymer matrix sample, excluding the control sample, contains 0.5 g of PANI. Three polymer matrices are synthesized with varying amounts of WPI: 0.5 g, 1 g and 1.5 g. A fourth polymer sample, with 1 g WPI and no PANI is synthesized and used as a control sample. The SEM testing showed fair homogeneity across all of the samples with the control sample being the least homogeneous. The FTIR results confirmed a well-integrated polymer matrix where hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions contribute to the structural stability and charge transport in the matrix. The TGA results revealed a distinct two-step degradation pattern: an initial mass loss corresponding to water evaporation, followed by a second drop associated with the depolymerization of the matrix. The highest rate of weight change was observed at 115°C - 130°C. Oven-dried samples were analyzed to determine their water content, which ranged from 29.99% to 63.81%, depending on the sample type. Based on the trend shown by the thermograms, samples containing higher amounts of WPI are more thermally stable compared to those that have lesser amounts of it in their matrix. The tensile testing revealed moderate stretchability across the samples with 1.5g WPI samples exhibiting the highest elastic modulus ~ 153 kPa. Strain values varied by sample type, ranging from 19.6% to 33.5%. The impedance testing revealed exquisitely low resistance, measuring as low as 5.1 k𝛀 for the 1g WPI sample at rest. The resistance values were fully restored following the stretch test. The best optimal time for self-healing showed to be 48 hours or longer. The electric impedance successfully restored post self-healing. The Zone of Inhibition results demonstrated that both Control samples and PANI samples are resistant to S. Aureus and E. Coli, with inhibition zones diameters ranging from 15.275 mm and 19.475 mm. The aim of this study was to develop a new formulation of a conductive polymer matrix that is far more biocompatible, yet that still exhibits satisfactory mechanical properties like its predecessors, making it a great candidate for bio-sensing applications.
