Conductive Hydrogels in Biomedical Engineering: Recent Advances and a Comprehensive Review.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Bioelectronics

Background:

• Conductive hydrogels mimic native tissue's electrical properties.
• They enable monitoring and modulation of biological activities.
• Rapid advancements necessitate a review of their functions and applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of conductive hydrogels.
• To summarize design strategies, fabrication methods, and conductive mechanisms.
• To highlight current and potential biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of conductive hydrogel research.
• Analysis of design principles and fabrication techniques.
• Discussion of biological and electroactive mechanisms in applications.

Main Results:

• Overview of conductive hydrogel design, fabrication, and conductivity.
• Detailed applications in wearable devices, implanted bioelectronics, wound healing, neural regeneration, and cell regulation.
• Identification of challenges and future directions for material optimization and application tailoring.

Conclusions:

• Conductive hydrogels are promising for diverse biomedical applications.
• Further research is needed to optimize fabrication and material properties.
• Tailoring conductive hydrogels is key for future biomedical advancements.