Hydrogel materials
have been employed as biological scaffolds for
tissue regeneration across a wide range of applications. Their versatility
and biomimetic properties make them an optimal choice for treating
the complex and delicate milieu of neural tissue damage. Aside from
finely tailored hydrogel properties, which aim to mimic healthy physiological
tissue, a minimally invasive delivery method is essential to prevent
off-target and surgery-related complications. The specific class of
injectable hydrogels termed self-assembling peptides (SAPs), provide
an ideal combination of in situ polymerization combined with versatility
for biofunctionlization, tunable physicochemical properties, and high
cytocompatibility. This review identifies design criteria for neural
scaffolds based upon key cellular interactions with the neural extracellular
matrix (ECM), with emphasis on aspects that are reproducible in a
biomaterial environment. Examples of the most recent SAPs and modification
methods are presented, with a focus on biological, mechanical, and
topographical cues. Furthermore, SAP electrical properties and methods
to provide appropriate electrical and electrochemical cues are widely
discussed, in light of the endogenous electrical activity of neural
tissue as well as the clinical effectiveness of stimulation treatments.
Recent applications of SAP materials in neural repair and electrical
stimulation therapies are highlighted, identifying research gaps in
the field of hydrogels for neural regeneration.
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