Abstract
Conductive, biocompatible materials, such as conductive polymers (CPs), hold a great deal of promise for biological applications. However, since conductive polymers are intrinsically brittle, a composite material is needed. Therefore, we developed conductive polymer-peptide hybrid materials that can self-assemble into fibrous networks mimicking the structure and density of human tissue. Two tetrapeptides, VEVA and VVEA were synthesized and characterized. A thiophene derivative was covalently linked to the peptide, allowing the peptide to be incorporated into the final conducting polymer. Self-assembly driven by non-covalent interactions allows for fibrous, homogenous gels to form in an aqueous environment. The addition of EDOT-OH expedited the polymerization process resulting in an electrically conductive hydrogel.
Semester/Year of Award
Spring 5-8-2018
Mentor
Martin L. Brock
Mentor Professional Affiliation
Chemistry
Access Options
Closed Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Department
Chemistry
Recommended Citation
Jenkins, Lauren D., "Hybridizing Conductive Polymers with Self-Assembling Peptides for Biomedical Applications" (2018). Honors Theses. 508.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/508
