The fabrication of conductive material-decorated hydrogels for tissue repair

Abstract

Conductive hydrogels have recently attracted considerable attention as a class of soft medical materials with high water content to mimic the electrophysiological environment of biological tissues for tissue repair applications, such as neural, skeletal muscle, cardiovascular tissues, and skin. In this review, firstly, we introduce conductive materials with various strategies and advanced manufacturing technologies to fabricate conductive hydrogels for tissue repair. On this basis, we focus on the application of conductive hydrogels to different damaged tissues, including choice of materials, multi-functional performance, and their mechanism for promoting healing in various damaged tissues. Finally, the advantages, challenges, and perspectives of the conductive material-decorated hydrogels are elaborated. It is believed that conductive hydrogel biomaterials will play an essential role in the field of tissue repair engineering due to their unique electrical performances, good biocompatibility, and amenability to various functional designs and developing needs.