Microfluidic electrochemical cell to pattern conducting polymer substrates for the study of nerve guidance

Studies in nerve regeneration would benefit from the development of biomaterials that can control cell attachment, growth, and differentiation. This paper describes the use of microfluidic channels to simultaneously electrodeposit multiple types of bioadhesive polymers onto different regions of a single electrode. The polymers generated are conducting polymers made of polypyrrole doped with various extracellular matrix molecules and proteins. This microfluidic method provides a convenient means to synthesize and screen multiple conducting polymer substrates for nerve guidance.