Short description:

This book is dedicated to the field of conductive polymers, focusing on electrical interactions with biological systems. It addresses the use of conductive polymers as the conducting interface for electrical communications with the biological system, both in vitro and in vivo. It provides an overview on the chemistry and physics of conductive polymers, their useful characteristics as well as limitations, and technologies that apply conductive polymers for medical purposes. This groundbreaking resource addresses cytotoxicity and tissue compatibility of conductive polymers, the basics on electromagnetic fields, and commonly used experimental methods.

Long description:

This book is dedicated to the field of conductive polymers, focusing on electrical interactions with biological systems. It addresses the use of conductive polymers as the conducting interface for electrical communications with the biological system, both in vitro and in vivo. It provides an overview on the chemistry and physics of conductive polymers, their useful characteristics as well as limitations, and technologies that apply conductive polymers for medical purposes. This groundbreaking resource addresses cytotoxicity and tissue compatibility of conductive polymers, the basics on electromagnetic fields, and commonly used experimental methods. Readers will also learn how cells are cultured in vitro with conductive polymers, and how conductive polymers and living tissues interact electrically. Throughout the contents, chapter authors emphasize the importance of conductive polymers in biomedical engineering and their potential applications in medicine.

"Profs. Zhang, Rouabhia, and Moulton have assembled a group of investigators that are working on issues ranging from materials synthesis, device characterization, and analytical measurements of performance. Of particular interest and value are several reports from clinically-inclined investigators that describe recent studies of electrically-mediated cell response. These areas represent opportunities for future developments and collaborations between chemists, materials scientists, biomedical engineers, and physicians. Taken together, these chapters provide a comprehensive overview of issues related to the interface between active devices and biological systems" 
?David C. Martin, Karl W. and Renate Böer Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware (from the Foreword)

Table of Contents:

Early History of Conductive Organic Polymers

Synthesis of Biomedically Relevant Conducting Polymers

Properties and Characterization of Conductive Polymers

Mechanism in Charge Transfer and Electrical Stability

Industry Viable Metal Anti-corrosion Application of Polyaniline

Medical Device Implants for Neuromodulation. The Electromagnetic Nature of Protein-Protein Interactions

The Impact of Electric Fields on Cell Processes, Membrane Proteins and Intracellular Signaling Cascades

Lipid-Protein Electrostatic Interactions in the Regulation of Membrane-Protein Activities

Experimental Methods to Manipulate Cultured Cells with Electrical and Electromagnetic Fields

The Neurotrophic Factor Rationale for Using Brief Electrical Stimulation to Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Animal Models and Human Patients

In vitro Modulatory Effects of Electrical Field on Fibroblasts

The Role of Electrical Field on Neurons: In vitro Studies

Modulation of Bone Cell Activities in vitro by Electrical and Electromagnetic Stimulations

Electrical Stimulation of Cells Derived from Muscle

The Response of Endothelial Cells to Endogenous Bioelectric Fields

The Role of Electrical Field on Stem Cells In Vitro

Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Cutaneous Wound Healing: Evidence from in vitro Studies and Clinical Trials

Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Bone Healing