ABSTRACT
Conducting polymers are versatile materials that possess both the unique properties of polymeric systems (elastic behavior, reversible deformation, flexibility) and the ability to conduct electricity with bulk conductivities comparable to those of metals and semiconductors (σ = 102–105 S/cm), thus have become a topic of interest to many areas in which novel materials are always in need. The particular mechanism in which these polymers conduct electricity and the stark differences with classical materials such as metals and semiconductors is the motivation of describing the general properties of the materials and focusing on their applications in many areas of science. This chapter has the objective of being a prelude for a better understanding of these applications, being insistent on the role of conducting polymers on biomedical applications where they show a great potential to revolutionize drug delivery, tissue engineering, in vivo analyte sensing, artificial muscle development, and several various areas.
