Engineered Hydrogels as Functional Components in Controllable Neuromodulation for Translational Therapeutics.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Controllable neuromodulation using hydrogels is a key strategy for neural repair.
• Clinical translation requires minimally invasive and highly effective therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review hydrogel-based neuromodulation strategies for neural repair.
• To classify different modes of hydrogel-mediated neuromodulation.
• To discuss design principles and clinical translation challenges.

Main Methods:

• Systematic classification of hydrogel-based neuromodulation into five modes: electrical, ionic, biomechanical, optical, and biochemical.
• Analysis of hydrogel physiochemical features and engineering for enhanced performance.
• Investigation of hydrogels with conductive components for cellular stimulation.

Main Results:

• Hydrogels can be engineered with specific properties for improved tissue-implant integration and neuromodulatory performance.
• Multimodal, closed-loop systems integrating sensing and drug delivery show potential for autonomous therapies.
• Incorporation of conductive materials enables precise cellular stimulation for nerve repair and neural interfaces.

Conclusions:

• Hydrogel-based neuromodulation presents a transformative therapeutic strategy for neural repair.
• Synergistic integration of multimodal functions in hydrogels is crucial for intelligent, autonomous therapies.
• Artificial intelligence-driven materials design holds promise for advancing next-generation neural interfaces.