Application of Hybrid Electrically Conductive Hydrogels Promotes Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) occurs frequently, and the prognosis is unsatisfactory. As the gold standard of treatment, autologous nerve grafting has several disadvantages, such as lack of donors and complications. The use of functional biomaterials to simulate the natural microenvironment of the nervous system and the combination of different biomaterials are considered to be encouraging alternative methods for effective tissue regeneration and functional restoration of injured nerves. Considering the inherent presence of an electric field in the nervous system, electrically conductive biomaterials have been used to promote nerve regeneration. Due to their singular physical properties, hydrogels can provide a three-dimensional hydrated network that can be integrated into diverse sizes and shapes and stimulate the natural functions of nerve tissue. Therefore, conductive hydrogels have become the most effective biological material to simulate human nervous tissue's biological and electrical characteristics. The principal merits of conductive hydrogels include their physical properties and their electrical peculiarities sufficient to effectively transmit electrical signals to cells. This review summarizes the recent applications of conductive hydrogels to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration.