Electroactive Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering: Advances, Mechanisms and Future Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• The dynamic electromechanical microenvironment is crucial for tissue engineering, particularly for electrically responsive tissues like nerves, heart, and bone.
• Electroactive nanomaterials (ENMs) possess intrinsic properties such as conductivity, piezoelectricity, and redox activity, enabling controlled regulation of cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of ENM applications in tissue engineering.
• To summarize the biophysical interactions between ENMs and cells.
• To discuss preclinical breakthroughs, clinical translation barriers, and future directions, including AI integration.

Main Methods:

• Systematic summarization and analysis of existing literature on ENMs in tissue engineering.
• Focus on biophysical interactions: electrical stimulation, ion flux, mechanotransduction, redox signaling, and immunomodulation.
• Discussion of preclinical findings and potential clinical translation challenges.

Main Results:

• ENMs demonstrate significant potential in regulating cell functions for tissue regeneration.
• Preclinical studies highlight conductive polymers for neural regeneration and piezoelectric nanomaterials for bone remodeling.
• Key biophysical interactions include electrical stimulation, ion flux, mechanotransduction, redox signaling, and immunomodulation.

Conclusions:

• ENMs are promising for tissue engineering applications, especially for electrically responsive tissues.
• Further research is needed to overcome clinical translation barriers.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) may play a role in optimizing ENMs and facilitating clinical translation.