Conducting polymer hydrogels for biomedical application: Current status and outstanding challenges

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Conducting polymer hydrogels (CPHs) integrate conductive polymers (CPs) with traditional hydrogels.
• This synergy yields materials with enhanced electrical, mechanical, and biocompatible properties.
• CPHs offer unique advantages over non-CPH conductive hydrogels in biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the synthesis methods for CPHs.
• To comprehensively overview recent advancements and applications of CPHs in biomedicine.
• To highlight CPHs' potential in biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of synthesis approaches for hydrogels, CPs, and CPHs.
• Analysis of CPH applications in biosensors, drug delivery scaffolds (DDSs), and tissue engineering.
• Discussion of CPHs in skeletal muscle, cardiac, epithelial, bone, cartilage, and neural regeneration.

Main Results:

• CPHs exhibit versatile applications including biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue regeneration.
• Specific tissue engineering applications include skeletal muscle, cardiac, epithelial, bone, cartilage, and neural regeneration.
• The review contrasts CPHs with non-CPH conductive hydrogels, highlighting CPH advantages.

Conclusions:

• Conducting polymer hydrogels are a promising class of materials for advanced biomedical applications.
• Continued research is essential to overcome current challenges and fully realize CPH potential.
• CPHs are poised to significantly impact the future of regenerative medicine and medical devices.