Advances in Conductive Hydrogel for Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment represents a major challenge in clinical practice. In recent years, the rapid development of neural tissue engineering technology has provided a new therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury repair. Implanting functionalized electroconductive hydrogels (ECH) in the injury area has been shown to promote axonal regeneration and facilitate the generation of neuronal circuits by reshaping the microenvironment of SCI. ECH not only facilitate intercellular electrical signaling but, when combined with electrical stimulation, enable the transmission of electrical signals to electroactive tissue and activate bioelectric signaling pathways, thereby promoting neural tissue repair. Therefore, the implantation of ECH into damaged tissues can effectively restore physiological functions related to electrical conduction. This article focuses on the dynamic pathophysiological changes in the SCI microenvironment and discusses the mechanisms of electrical stimulation/signal in the process of SCI repair. By examining electrical activity during nerve repair, we provide insights into the mechanisms behind electrical stimulation and signaling during SCI repair. We classify conductive biomaterials, and offer an overview of the current applications and research progress of conductive hydrogels in spinal cord repair and regeneration, aiming to provide a reference for future explorations and developments in spinal cord regeneration strategies.

Harnessing the potential of hydrogels for advanced therapeutic applications: current achievements and future directions

“…Human tissue and organ regeneration capabilities are notably constrained, particularly following surgery, where tissue defects may result in delayed or non-healing wounds due to inadequate blood supply, as well as in the restoration and functional recovery of the central nervous system after injury. 694 , 695 Consequently, developing therapies aimed at replacing or repairing these damaged tissues has emerged as a critical focus within regenerative medicine. Hydrogels, among various materials utilized in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, have become essential for regenerating diverse tissues, including skin, bone, and nerves.…”

Modern advances in spinal cord regeneration: hydrogel combined with neural stem cells

“…Due to high electrical activity, such matrices promote cell adhesion, their growth and proliferation. Polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANi), polythiophene (PT), its derivatives, and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are most often used for SC tissue regeneration ( Qin et al, 2023 ).…”

“…In recent years, a large number of studies have been devoted to elucidating effectiveness of hydrogel matrices during implantation in the SCI area ( Lv et al, 2022 ; Radulescu et al, 2022 ; Qin et al, 2023 ; Sun et al, 2023 ). It was shown that hydrogels, as synthetic and semi-synthetic matrices, provide appropriate conditions for cell adhesion and cellular remodelling in a three-dimensional structure ( González-Díaz and Varghese, 2016 ; Akther et al, 2020 ; Ligorio and Mata, 2023 ).…”

Advances in electroactive bioscaffolds for repairing spinal cord injury

“…When injury occurs, the signaling pathway between afferent and efferent neurons is disrupted, preventing the normal transmission of electrical signals to the other side, and resulting in loss of motor function and abnormal sensory functions [20]. Benefiting from the progress of biomaterial scaffolds in nerve injury repair and nerve function regeneration, rational design of nerve regeneration scaffolds with electrical activity can not only mimic the electronic conductivity of the natural spinal cord, but also facilitate the delivery of drugs, cytokines, or cells to target sites [12,21]. Thus, the SCI-post microenvironment can be modulated, which would further promote the reconnection of the neural circuits interrupted by SCI, and facilitate neural regeneration [22][23][24].…”