Year

2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Intelligent Polymer Research Institute

Abstract

Conducting polymers (CPs) show promise for future implantable electronics owing to the inherent softness, ionic and electronic conductivity, processibility and the capability to be functionalised. In particular, the use of biofunctionalised poly(thiophenes) at biointerfaces is advantageous as the CP can better interact with cells and proteins, as shown in vitro. Yet very little has been done with cholesteryl functionalisation.

Cholesterol naturally intercalates the cell membrane to create highly ordered regions. In material systems, cholesterol can guide isotropic materials into anisotropic phases, which provides an opportunity to synthesise biocompatible polymers with improved molecular ordering that is desirable in bioelectronics. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to investigate the impact of modifying thiophene-based monomers with cholesterol with the intention of creating biocompatible and ordered poly(thiophene)s. This was achieved by exploring suitable monomer structures, addressing the right level of hydrophilicity of the synthesized polymers, and investigating different polymerisation methods.

FoR codes (2008)

0305 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 100702 Molecular and Organic Electronics, 030306 Synthesis of Materials

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Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.