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theses

Skeletal muscles have great regeneration abilities after small wounds or injuries. However, in extreme cases with chronic damage, and traumatic injuries, the regenerative properties of skeletal muscle can be hindered. Biocompatible material muscle grafts such as electroactive muscle scaffolds are currently studied as an alternative treatment method. Electroactive muscle scaffolds serve as great alternatives because of their ability to mimic native muscle with its mechanical and contractile properties. We can produce active materials that contract and expand as needed, much like skeletal muscle, by strategically placing conductive elements around electroactive polymer (EAP) hydrogels. These ideas can be combined to produce active materials that can electrically, physically, and biochemically activate cells. Their design allows them to function similarly to native muscle when electrically stimulated by converting polymer bending into overall scaffold contraction. The electroactive and conductive portions of the muscle scaffold are needed to stimulate the actuation and contraction of the scaffold. The electroactive portion is made with an electroactive polymer made from polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and acrylic acid (AA). The conductive portion can be created with several different conductive materials combined with PEGDA. In this study, we investigated the use of carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, and FeCl3 as conductive elements for our scaffolds. These elements were combined with PEGDA alone and PEGDA-AA. Results show a concentration-based change in mechanical properties and conductivity with the addition of these elements. These materials were able to create electric fields strong enough to move the electroactive material PEGDA-AA.

http://dissertations.umi.com/gsnb.rutgers:12332

M.S.

Includes bibliographical references

doi:10.7282/t3-r0cy-7111

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