Fluorinated amphiphiles are gaining attention in nanomedicine for their unique self-assembly properties and stability, offering opportunities for intracellular drug delivery platforms. We synthesized a tunable series of "fluorosomes" (amine, glutamine, glutamic acid, succinic acid, folate terminus, FITC reporter) based on monodisperse poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) that spontaneously assemble into nanoparticles with terminal-group-dependent zeta-potentials and morphologies (DLS/TEM). Using a suite of cell lines, we examined cellular uptake, intracellular localization, and cytotoxicity, revealing that despite the superhydrophobic nature of longer fluorinated chains, surface charge still plays a role in modulating nanoparticle - cell interactions. Confocal microscopy revealed a distinct and conserved perinuclear distribution pattern consistent with an endoplasmic reticulum association. This suggests that the observed trafficking occurs predominantly in the proximity of the ER and is largely independent of terminal charge, with folate representing a notable exception. The intracellular distribution pattern suggests a potential preference for nonlysosomal trafficking pathways, possibly involving caveolae-mediated endocytosis, although further mechanistic studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. In vivo NIR imaging of charged variants showed rapid hepatic accumulation, followed by hepatobiliary transit to the intestine and residual signals in the kidneys and lymph nodes through 24-48 h. These data position fluorosomes as possible intracellular carriers for future nanomedicine applications.

Nanomedicines have shown significant potential in advancing treatment for a variety of cancer types. Despite these advances, further research is essential to improve the efficacy and selectivity of anticancer nanomedicines, particularly by developing delivery systems capable of achieving high efficacy with minimal off-target toxicity. We herein report novel pH-responsive block copolymer-drug conjugates based on poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide) (PHPMAm) and benzoic imine linkages, uniquely combining stealth performance with tunable, acid-triggered drug release. By engineering block and random copolymer architectures with controlled hydrophilic shell length, we systematically evaluated how polymer structure governs self-assembly, release kinetics, and therapeutic outcomes. The conjugates achieve up to 10-12 wt% doxorubicin loading, with pH-selective release half-live spanning within 2-40 h. In contrast to most Schiff base polymer-drug systems limited to in vitro data, the synthesized polymer-drug conjugates demonstrated outstanding antitumor efficacy and 100 % survival for spherical assemblies in aggressive murine lymphoma models, with superior safety. Unlike conventional PEG systems, PHPMAm-based copolymers can potentially avoid anti-PEG immunogenicity and exhibit exceptional in vivo stability and tumor accumulation.

Photo-crosslinkable gelatin-based hydrogels hold great promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, monitoring these hydrogels in vivo remains challenging and limits their further development and clinical translation. Here, we address this limitation by utilizing a gelatin-based hydrogel that incorporates the radiopaque compound 5-acrylamido-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid (AATIPA). In an in vivo study spanning over 400 days, we monitor the degradation kinetics of these hydrogels using computed tomography and ultrasonography. We synthesize three distinct AATIPA-containing hydrogels and implant them subcutaneously into mice. Hydrogels with high crosslink density show minimal degradation, while those with lower crosslinking densities degrade within approximately three months. Histological evaluation reveals that the scaffolds are replaced by adjacent adipose tissue. In vitro, adipose-derived stem cells differentiate into the adipogenic lineage, corroborating the in vivo findings. These results highlight the potential of these hydrogels for adipose tissue engineering by enabling in vivo monitoring and offering tailored degradation profiles. Photo-crosslinkable gelatin-based hydrogels hold promise for tissue engineering, but in vivo monitoring challenges hinder their clinical translation. Here, radiopaque, 3D-printable hydrogels with tailored degradation profiles, enable long-term in vivo monitoring and demonstrate potential for adipose tissue engineering by facilitating scaffold colonization and replacement by adipose tissue

Cationic (co)polymers play an important role in many (bio)applications, such as drug and gene delivery, antimicrobial agents, integral parts of hydrogels, and others. Here, we present cationic copolymers prepared by partial hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) as a new type of polymeric modifier of clay minerals with improved biocompatibility toward potential utilization in biomedical and environmental applications. Statistical poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline-co-ethylene imine)s (PEtOx-co-PEI) of different compositions (degree of hydrolysis 9, 12, 22, 28, 55 and 56 %, respectively) are prepared by a two-step synthetic protocol consisting of a living cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline and the subsequent acidic hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-2oxazoline). We demonstrate that above 22 mol% of ethylene imine (EI) units, prepared copolymers are positively charged as seen from the zeta potential measurements. The XRD patterns of the powder samples of PEtOxco-PEI modified organoclays are analyzed in order to evaluate the impact of the initial concentration of copolymers, used for sample preparation, on the changes in basal spacing value (d001), reflecting the expansion of the interlayer space. We observe the expansion of the interlayer space in montmorillonite (MMT), a clay mineral from the smectite group, dependently on the composition of copolymers and the content of the copolymer in MMT. The presence of copolymers in the interlayer space of MMT decreases in vitro cytotoxicity of virgin MMT as determined in 3T3 mice fibroblasts. MMT modified with PEtOx-co-PEI can have strong potential as a drug delivery vehicle, for tissue engineering applications, or as a sorption material. However, a key application explored in this study is the removal and degradation of the organophosphate paraoxon, a highly toxic insecticide and potent chemical warfare agent. Here, we show adsorption and, importantly, also hydrolytic decomposition of the model substrate paraoxon as a representative of organophosphates at physiological neutral pH (Tris buffer pH 7.4). Hydrolysis of paraoxon is easy to follow due to chromogenicity, where the spectral change is given by the release of 4-nitrophenolate with a different UV-VIS spectrum than paraoxon. MMT modified with the soluble partially hydrolyzed poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) with 59 mol% EI units significantly increases the hydrolysis rate of paraoxon compared to non-modified pristine MMT. These findings highlight the potential of PEtOx-co-PEImodified MMT for biomedical applications and environmental remediation, particularly in detoxifying hazardous organophosphates.

The Radiochemical Laboratory of the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), was established in 2009 to advance the synthesis and characterization of radiolabeled polymers and nanoparticles. From the outset, close collaboration with the biological and medical departments of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, proved essential. This article summarizes a fifteen-year collaboration, from the earliest experiments at the Institute of Biophysics and Informatics to the current era of the Center for Advanced Preclinical Imaging (CAPI). The partnership has led to joint publications, projects, and patents with implications for medicine. The text further provides an overview of technical equipment, practical requirements for in vivo experiments, and the economic aspects of preclinical research.

Background Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is an effective option for cancer treatment. To maximize its efficacy and minimize side effects, carriers must deliver radionuclides to target tissues. Most of the nuclides used in TAT decay via the alpha cascade, producing several radioactive daughter nuclei with sufficient energy to escape from the original carrier. Therefore, studying these daughter atoms is crucial in the search for new carriers. Nanoparticles have potential as carriers due to their structure, which can prevent the escape of daughter atoms and reduce radiation exposure to non-target tissues. This work focuses on determining the released activity of Fr-221 and Bi-213 resulting from the decay of Ac-225 labelled TiO2 nanoparticles. Results Labelling of TiO2 nanoparticles has shown high sorption rates of Ac-225 and its progeny, Fr-221 and Bi-213, with over 92 % of activities sorbed on the nanoparticle surface for all measured radionuclides. However, in the quasi-dynamic in vitro system, the released activity of Fr-221 and Bi-213 is strongly dependent on the nanoparticles concentration, ranging from 15 % for a concentration of 1 mg/mL to approximately 50 % for a nanoparticle concentration of 10 mu g/mL in saline solution. The released activities of Bi-213 were lower, with a maximum value of around 20 % for concentrations of 0.05, 0.025, and 0.01 mg/mL. The leakage of Ac-225 and its progeny was tested in various biological matrices. Minimal released activity was measured in saline at around 10 % after 48 h, while the maximum activity was measured in blood serum and plasma at 20 %. The amount of Ac-225 released into the media was minimal (<3 %). The in vitro results were confirmed in a healthy mouse model. The difference in %ID/g was clearly visible immediately after dissection and again after 6 h when Bi-213 reached equilibrium with Ac-225. Conclusion The study verified the potential release of Ac-225 progeny from the labelled TiO2 nanoparticles. Experiments were performed to determine the dependence of released activity on nanoparticle concentration and the biological environment. The results demonstrated the high stability of the prepared Ac-225@TiO2 NPs and the potential release of progeny over time. In vivo studies confirmed our hypothesis. The data obtained suggest that the daughter atoms can escape from the original carrier and follow their own biological pathways in the organism.

Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1) is among the most overexpressed proteins in tumors. MCL1 contributes to tumorigenesis by antagonizing apoptosis. However, apoptosis-unrelated functions are emerging. Screening an array of signaling switches identifies mTORC1 to be modulated by MCL1 but not by the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. mTORC1 is a central metabolic regulator. MCL1 impacts metabolism via modulating the expression of hexokinase 2 (HK2) in an mTORC1-dependent manner, which ultimately contributes to the tumor-promoting effects of MCL1. MCL1 inhibitors suppress mTORC1 in tumor cells but are associated with cardiotoxicity due to mTORC1 inhibition in the heart. Dietary leucine supplementation rescues mTORC1 signaling in the hearts of humanized Mcl-1 mice and greatly ameliorates the cardiotoxicity of MCL1 inhibitors. Taken together, here we describe tumor-promoting roles for MCL1 in regulating mTORC1 signaling and subsequently in bioenergetics, besides its role in antagonizing apoptosis, identifying MCL1 as a hinge of cell bioenergetics and survival.

Gelatin-based hydrogels emerged as promising biodegradable cell-compatible 3D-printable materials with tunable mechanical properties that serve tissue engineering and applications in regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, these materials are very challenging to monitor in vivo, which has hampered the further development of these materials and their translation into clinical practice. To overcome this limitation, we designed a cross-linked 3D-printable gelatin-based hydrogel endowed with poly[N-(2,2-difluoroethyl)acrylamide] (PDFEA). Such PDFEA-containing hydrogels can be monitored in vivo through fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (F-19 MRI), which enables to monitor such implants in vivo and to assess their in vivo biodegradation kinetics. Herein, we prepared three different PDFEA-containing hydrogels with varying cross-linking degrees and studied their physicochemical properties (storage modulus, Young's modulus, swelling ratio, in vitro degradation rate). Next, we administered these samples subcutaneously into mice and exploited F-19 MRI to detect the biodegradation kinetics over 370 days. Hydrogels with a high cross-linking degree did not extensively degrade in vitro nor in vivo within the evaluated time frame. In contrast, hydrogels characterized by a low degree of cross-linking extensively degraded in vitro as well as in vivo (half-life of 228 +/- 21 days). We demonstrated that endowing hydrogels with PDFEA enables monitoring of these hydrogels in vivo. Our results may become a benchmark in forthcoming studies of biodegradable hydrogels and the development of F-19 MRI detectable gelatin-based hydrogels, paving the way toward their entry in clinical practice.

The permeability and responsiveness of polymer membranes are absolutely relevant in the design of polymersomes for cargo delivery. Accordingly, we herein correlate the structural features, permeability, and responsiveness of doxorubicin-loaded (DOX-loaded) nonresponsive and stimuli-responsive polymersomes with their in vitro and in vivo antitumor performance. Polymer vesicles were produced using amphiphilic block copolymers containing a hydrophilic poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) segment linked to poly[N-(4-isopropylphenylacetamide)ethyl methacrylate] (PPPhA, nonresponsive block), poly[4-(4,4,5,5-tetra-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzyl methacrylate] [PbAPE, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive block], or poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDPA, pH-responsive block). The PDPA-based polymersomes demonstrated outstanding biological performance with antitumor activity notably enhanced compared to their counterparts. We attribute this behavior to a fast-triggered DOX release in acidic tumor environments as induced by pH-responsive polymersome disassembly at pH < 6.8. Possibly, an insufficient ROS concentration in the selected tumor model attenuates the rate of ROS-responsive vesicle degradation, whereas the nonresponsive nature of the PPPhA block remarkably impacts the performance of such potential nanomedicines.

We report the design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of stimuli-responsive nanoscale micelles that can be activated by light to induce a cytotoxic effect. Micelles were assembled from amphiphilic units made of a photoactivatable ferrocenyl linker, connected on one side to a lipophilic chain, and on the other side to a hydrophilic pegylated chain. In vitro experiments indicated that pristine micelles ("off" state) were nontoxic to MCF-7 cancer cells, even at high concentrations, but became potent upon photoactivation ("on" state). The illumination process led to the dissociation of the micelles and the concomitant release of iron species, triggering cytotoxicity.

Organophosphate neuroactive agents represent severe security threats in various scenarios, including military conflicts, terrorist activities and industrial accidents. Addressing these threats necessitates effective protective measures, with a focus on decontamination strategies. Adsorbents such as bentonite have been explored as a preliminary method for chemical warfare agent immobilization, albeit lacking chemical destruction capabilities. Chemical decontamination, on the other hand, involves converting these agents into non-toxic or less toxic forms. In this study, we investigated the hydrolytic activity of a Cu(II) complex, previously studied for phosphate ester hydrolysis, as a potential agent for chemical warfare decontamination. Specifically, we focused on a ligand featuring a thiophene anchor bound through an aliphatic spacer, which exhibited high hydrolytic activity in its Cu(II) complex form in our previous studies. Paraoxon, an efficient insecticide, was selected as a model substrate for hydrolytic studies due to its structural resemblance to specific chemical warfare agents and due to the presence of a chromogenic 4-nitrophenolate moiety. Our findings clearly show the hydrolytic activity of the studied Cu(II) complexes. Additionally, we demonstrate the immobilization of the studied complex onto a solid substrate of Amberlite XAD4 via copolymerization of its thiophene side group with dithiophene. The hydrolytic activity of the resultant material towards paraoxon was studied, indicating its potential utilization in organophosphate neuroactive agent decontamination under mild conditions and the key importance of surface adsorption of paraoxon on the polymer surface.

Poly( ɛ -caprolactone) (PCL) is a biocompatible, biodegradable, and highly mechanically resilient FDA-approved material (for specific biomedical applications, e.g. as drug delivery devices, in sutures, or as an adhesion barrier), rendering it a promising candidate to serve bone tissue engineering. However, in vivo monitoring of PCL-based implants, as well as biodegradable implants in general, and their degradation profiles pose a significant challenge, hindering further development in the tissue engineering field and subsequent clinical adoption. To address this, photo-cross-linkable mechanically resilient PCL networks are developed and functionalized with a radiopaque monomer, 5-acrylamido-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid (AATIPA), to enable non-destructive in vivo monitoring of PCL-based implants. The covalent incorporation of AATIPA into the crosslinked PCL networks does not significantly affect their crosslinking kinetics, mechanical properties, or thermal properties, but it increases their hydrolysis rate and radiopacity. Complex and porous 3D designs of radiopaque PCL networks can be effectively monitored in vivo. This work paves the way toward non-invasive monitoring of in vivo degradation profiles and early detection of potential implant malfunctions.

Background: Targeted alpha therapy is one of the most powerful therapeutical modalities available in nuclear medicine. It's therapeutic potency is based on the nuclides that emit one or several alpha particles providing strong and highly localized therapeutic effects. However, some of these radionuclides, like e.g. 223Ra or 225Ac decay in cascades, where the radioactive progeny originating from the consecutive alpha-decays may leave the original vector and cause unwanted irradiation of non-target organs. This progeny, even if partially retained in target tissues by internalization processes, typically do not follow the fate of originally targeted radiopharmaceutical and potentially spread over body following their own biodistribution. In this study we aimed to estimate 211Pb/211Bi progeny fate from the 223Ra surface-labelled TiO2 nanoparticles in vitro and the fate of 211Pb in vivo in a mice model. Results: In vitro stability studies have shown significant differences between the release of the mother 223Ra and its progeny (211Pb, 211Bi) in all the biological matrices that have been tested. The lowest released activities were measured in saline, resulting in less than 5 % of released activity for all nuclides. Contrary to that, the highest released activity of 223Ra of up to 10 % within 48 h was observed in 5 % solution of albumin. The released activity of its progeny; the 211Pb and 211Bi was in the range of 20-40 % in this test medium. Significantly higher released activities of 211Pb and 211Bi compared to 223Ra by at least 10 % was observed in each biological medium, except saline, where no significant differences were observed. The in vivo biodistribution studies results in a mice model, show similar pattern, where it was found that even after accumulation of nanoparticles in target tissues, approximately 10 % of 211Pb is continuously released into the blood stream within 24 h, followed by its natural accumulation in kidneys. Conclusion: This study confirms our assumption that the progeny formed in a chain alpha decay of a certain nuclide, in this case the 223Ra, can be released from its original vector, leave the target tissue, relocate and could be deposited in non-target organs. We did not observe complete progeny wash-out from its original target tissues in our model. This indicates strong dependence of the progeny hot atom fate after its release from the original radiopharmaceutical preparation on multiple factors, like their internalization and retention in cells, cell membranes, extracellular matrices, protein binding, etc. We hypothesize, that also the primary tumour or metastasis size, their metabolic activity may significantly influence progeny fate in vivo, directly impacting the dose delivered to non-target tissues and organs. Therefore a bottom -up approach should be followed and detailed pre-/clinical studies on the release and biodistribution of radioactive progeny originating from the chain alpha emitters should be preferably performed.

Uncontrolled accumulation of proteins and cells on implantable materials often leads to failure of their performance in vivo. The idea presented in this paper is the use of electron beam irradiation as a widely applicable, costeffective, and defined method to produce non-biofouling hydrogel coatings to improve the biocompatibility and in vivo performance of implantable materials. Statistical copolymers poly[2-methyl-2-oxazoline-co-2-(3-butenyl)2-oxazoline]s were deposited on different substrates and irradiated with beta radiation of different radiation doses (2-100 kGy). In the bulk state experiments, we found that the higher content of crosslinkable 3-butenyl units and a higher radiation dose resulted in more efficient crosslinking. Similarly, the irradiation of coatings demonstrated the high impact of the concentration of 3-butenyl units on crosslinking efficiency. Accordingly, the concentration of crosslinkable double bonds in the copolymer is crucial for the stability and homogeneity of the formed hydrogel layer. Stable and uniform hydrogel layers with thicknesses in the micrometer range were prepared from a 5 wt% copolymer solution. Depending on the preparation conditions, the hydrogel layers showed excellent non-biofouling properties with a low number of adherent cells. In addition, stiffness was dependent on the degree of crosslinking, and can thus be tailored for specific application in living tissue.

Bioactive moieties designed to bind to cell membrane receptors benefit from coupling with polymeric carriers that have enhanced affinity to the cell membrane. When bound to the cell surface, such carriers create a "2D solution" of a ligand with a significantly increased concentration near a membrane-bound receptor compared to a freely water-soluble ligand. Bifunctional polymeric carriers based on amphiphilic triblock copolymers were synthesized from 2-pent-4-ynyl oxazoline, 2-nonyl oxazoline and 2-ethyl oxazoline. Their self-assembly and interactions with plasma proteins and HEK 293 cells were studied in detail. The affinity of these triblock copolymers to HEK 293 cell membranes and organ tissues was tunable by the overall hydrophobicity of the polymer molecule, which is determined by the length of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks. The circulation time and biodistribution of three representative triblock copolymers were monitored after intravenous administration to C57BL/6 albino mice. A prolonged circulation time was observed for polymers with longer hydrophobic blocks, despite their molecular weight being below the renal threshold.

A new type of hydrophilic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polypeptide nanogel depots loaded with the natural serine protease inhibitor α1-antitrypsin (AAT) was applied for the inhibition of the inflammatory mediator trypsin. Two types of nanogels were prepared from linear synthetic polypeptides based on biocompatible and biodegradable poly[ N 5 -(2-hydroxyethyl)-ʟ-glutamine- ran - N 5 -propargyl-ʟ-glutamine- ran - N 5 -(6-aminohexyl)-ʟ-glutamine]- ran - N 5 -[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl)-ʟ-glutamine] (PHEG-Tyr) or biocompatible N α -ʟ-lysine-grafted α,β-poly[(2-propyne)-ᴅ,ʟ-aspartamide- ran -(2-hydroxyethyl)-ᴅʟ-aspartamide- ran -(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl)-ᴅʟ-aspartamide] ( N α -Lys-NG). Both nanogels were prepared by HRP/H 2 O 2 -mediated crosslinking in inverse miniemulsions with pH and temperature-stimuli responsive behavior confirmed by dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements. The loading capacity of PHEG-Tyr and N α -Lys-NG nanogels and their release profiles were first optimized with bovine serum albumin. The nanogels were then used for loading and release of AAT. PHEG-Tyr and N α -Lys-NG nanogels showed different loading capacities for AAT with the maximum (20%) achieved with N α -Lys-NG nanogel. In both cases, the nanogel depots demonstrated a burst release of AAT during the first 6 h, which could be favorable for quick inhibition of trypsin. A consequent pilot in vitro inhibition study revealed that both PHEG-Tyr and N α -Lys-NG nanogels loaded with AAT successfully inhibited the enzymatic activity of trypsin. Furthermore, the inhibitory efficiency of the AAT-loaded nanogels was higher than that of only AAT. Interestingly, also non-loaded PHEG-Tyr and N α -Lys-NG nanogels were shown to effectively inhibit trypsin because they contain suitable amino acids in their structures that effectively block the active site of trypsin.

Radiation resistance of cancer cells represents one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. The novel self-assembled fluoralkylated diselenide nanoparticles (fluorosomes) based on seleno-l-cystine (17FSe2) possess redox-active properties that autocatalytically decompose hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and oxidize the intracellular glutathione (GSH) that results in regulation of cellular oxidative stress. Alkylfluorinated diselenide nanoparticles showed a significant cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effect on cancer cells. The EL-4 tumor-bearing C56BL/6 mice treated with 17FSe2 followed by fractionated radiation treatment (4 × 2Gy) completely suppressed tumor growth. Our results suggest that described diselenide system behaves as a potent radiosensitizer agent targeting tumor growth and preventing tumor recurrence.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease affecting millions of people worldwide. The active phase of IBD is characterized by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intestinal mucosa, which further accelerates the inflammatory process. A feasible strategy for the IBD treatment is thus breaking the oxidation-inflammation vicious circle by scavenging excessive ROS with the use of a suitable antioxidant. Herein, we have developed a novel hydrogel system for oral administration utilizing sterically hindered amine-based redox polymer (SHARP) incorporating covalently bound antioxidant SHA groups. SHARP was prepared via free-radical polymerization by covalent crosslinking of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and a SHA-based monomer, N-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-4-yl)-methacrylamide. The SHARP hydrogel was resistant to hydrolysis and swelled considerably (∼90% water content) under the simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions, and exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant properties in vitro against different ROS. Further, the SHARP hydrogel was found to be non-genotoxic, non-cytotoxic, non-irritating, and non-absorbable from the gastrointestinal tract. Most importantly, SHARP hydrogel exhibited a statistically significant, dose-dependent therapeutic effect in the mice model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis. Altogether, the obtained results suggest that the SHARP hydrogel strategy holds a great promise with respect to IBD treatment.

The impact of various sterilization methods on the conductivity of polyaniline and polypyrrole has been tested. The sterilization methods included 8- and gamma-irradiation, UV-light irradiation, immersion in aqueous ethanol, and moist and dry heat treatment. Except for the dry heat, all methods can be used for the sterilization of conducting polymers without any significant reduction in their conductivity. Any changes in the conductivity associated with the modified molecular structure due to polymer deprotonation are discussed with the help of FTIR spectroscopy. The morphology of conducting polymers has not been affected by the sterilization.