Biodegradable polymer/graphene oxide сomposite for in vivo use

Abstract

Recently, there has been a growing need for the installation of implants to monitor particular processes, stimulate cell growth or activity, or to replace tissues. The use of remote monitoring using biodegradable materials would facilitate the work of doctors, simplify the lives of patients, and also have a beneficial effect on the environment. Remote monitoring would allow monitoring of the tissues around the implant and the condition of the implant itself. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is one of the promising carbon materials due to its distinctive properties: inexpensive, ease of production, and high conductivity. It is proposed to create an electronic component based on laser-reduced graphene oxide and biodegradable polymers for monitoring the state of the implant. The study of the properties of rGO on biodegradable polymers made it possible to select laser reduction modes and select the PLLA polymer for further study. The mechanical stability test suggests the formation of a composite of rGO and polymers. After chemical exposure, a change in conductivity is observed. The samples turned out to be biocompatible, which means they are suitable for subsequent studies. Further the electrical characterization and approaches to create the electronic components have been investigated. This work paves the way for the development of new implantable electronic components for monitoring important parameters of the human body.