Colloidal strategies for electrophoretic deposition of organic-inorganic composites for biomedical applications

Poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSM) exhibits a number of unique properties, which are important for diverse biomedical applications. A conceptually new strategy has been utilized for dispersion, charging and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of advanced materials for biomedical applications, such as hydroxyapatite, bioglass, TiO2 and Al2O3 using PSM. The approach is based on the use of chelating properties of maleic acid monomers, which created multiple bonds with surface atoms on the particle surface and allowed strong PSM adsorption and efficient particle dispersion. The deposition kinetics and mechanism have been investigated and the advantages of PSM have been discussed. Our new findings in the colloidal electrochemistry allowed for the co-deposition of PSM with hemoglobin and albumin, which have been utilized as model proteins for the development of the deposition mechanism. Another major finding was the possibility of efficient deposition of various composites, containing PSM, hydroxyapatite, bioglass, TiO2, Al2O3, proteins and carbon nanotubes. Comprehensive electron microscopy data was used for the analysis of film morphologies at different experimental conditions. The results of this investigation paved the way for EPD of composite films, utilizing properties of different functional biomaterials.