Conductive soft gels for skeletal muscle electrostimulation and repair: an overview

Abstract

Severe muscle injuries require muscle regeneration, involving biological processes that usually take a long period to be completed. Over the past few years, significant advances have been achieved in the field of tissue engineering (TE), where new biomaterials and therapies have emerged with the purpose of accelerating this process. Scaffolds, which are commonly used biomaterials in TE, provide mechanical support for cells during the healing process, whereas the use of conductive scaffolds in combination with electrostimulation (ES) has recently been shown to promote cell proliferation and differentiation. In this context, conductive gels play a dual role: as conductive scaffolds and as skin–electrodes interface in ES therapies. The aim of this review is to explore the recent advances in the use of conductive scaffolds and gels for skeletal muscle ES and repair, highlighting their potential as promising tools for future clinical applications.