Development of electroactive hydrogels via in-situ aniline polymerization in tragacanth gum for enhanced nerve tissue...

Hydrogels are attractive candidates for tissue engineering applications due to their unique properties supporting tissue formation. Electrical conductivity is vital for nerve cell growth on scaffolds. In this study, conductive hydrogel was developed using tragacanth gum and aniline, blended at varying concentrations and polymerized in situ with ammonium persulfate and citric acid to form an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure. The optimal formulation achieved a conductivity of 3.56 × 10^-3 S/m. This sample exhibited the highest swelling ratio of approximately 778 %, indicating enhanced water absorption capacity. Furthermore, the gel remaining was maintained at approximately 35 % after 28 days of incubation. SEM analysis revealed enlarged pores with an average diameter of 114.28 microm, which is conducive to cell infiltration and neurite extension. Cytocompatibility was confirmed through MTT and LDH assays. Notably, the optimal formulation maintained >100 % viability of LAN-5 neuroblastoma cells over a seven-day period. The neural cells were successfully entrapped within the electroactive hydrogels and exhibited excellent adhesion, spreading, and proliferation during the cell culture period. Overall, this study highlights the development of a conductive hydrogel that can support the growth of neural cells, paving the way for potential applications in nerve tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.