Conductive Hydrogels: Progress and Prospects in Biomedical Engineering

Conductive hydrogels (CHs), which integrate the biomimetic properties of hydrogels with the functionality of conductive components, have demonstrated distinctive advantages in biomedical engineering. By modulating cell-cell interactions, CHs provide an optimal microenvironment to facilitate cellular growth, proliferation, and migration, emerging as a promising platform for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. This review systematically examines the intricate relationships among the composition, structure, and fabrication strategies of CHs, while highlighting their recent advancements in biomedical applications, including skin tissue regeneration, spinal cord injury repair, muscular tissue reconstruction, cardiac tissue engineering, and biosensing technologies. The design and synthesis of diverse CHs are introduced first, followed by a comprehensive summary of the common preparation methods. Furthermore, the current limitations of CHs in practical applications are critically analyzed, alongside perspectives on future developmental directions. By elucidating the interplay between material properties and biological functionality, this review aims to inspire interest in CHs and offer valuable insights for their rational design and application in next-generation biomedical innovations.