2134/37778 Ana M. Rodrigues Rebelo Ana M. Rodrigues Rebelo Yang Liu Yang Liu Changqing Liu Changqing Liu Karl-Herbert Schafer Karl-Herbert Schafer Monika Saumer Monika Saumer Guang Yang Guang Yang Carbon nanotube-reinforced poly(4-vinylaniline)/polyaniline bilayer-grafted bacterial cellulose for bioelectronic applications Loughborough University 2019 Bacterial cellulose Poly(4-vinylaniline)/polyaniline bilayer Carbon nanotubes, Composite Bioelectronic interface Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified 2019-05-20 09:12:03 Journal contribution https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Carbon_nanotube-reinforced_poly_4-vinylaniline_polyaniline_bilayer-grafted_bacterial_cellulose_for_bioelectronic_applications/9545528 Microbial cellulose paper treated with polyaniline and carbon nanotubes (PANI/CNTs) can be attractive as potential flexible capacitors in terms of further improvements to the conductivity and thermal resistance. The interactions between PANI and CNTs exhibit new electrochemical features with increased electrical conductivity and enhanced capacity. In this study, PANI/CNTs was incorporated into a flexible poly(4-vinylaniline)-grafted bacterial cellulose (BC/PVAN) nanocomposite substrate for further functionalization and processability. PANI/CNTs coatings with a nanorod-like structure can promote an efficient ion diffusion and charge transfer, with a significant enhancement of the electrical conductivity after CNTs reinforcement of 1 order of magnitude up to (1.0 ± 0.3) × 10−1 S·cm−1 . An escalating improvement of the double charge capacity (∼54 mF) of the grafted BC nanocomposites was also detected through electrochemical analysis. The multilayered electrical coatings also reinforce the thermal resistance, preventing anticipated thermal degradation of the BC substrate. The cell viability and differentiation assays using neural stem cells (SVZ cells) testified to the cytocompatibility of the grafted BC nanocomposites, while inducing neuronal differentiation over 7 days of culture with a neurite that was 77 ± 24.7 μm long. This is promising for meeting the requirements in the construction of high-performance bioelectronic devices that can actively interface biologically, providing a friendly environment for cells while tuning the device performance.