Tapping into tissue bioelectromechanics: Electroactive biopolymers for dynamic tissue engineering

摘要

The success of tissue engineering constructs in restoring healthy tissue function is driven by the interplay of cells with their microenvironmental cues. Therefore, the design of tissue engineering materials is typically guided by ensuring adequate mimicry and regulation of the dynamic biochemical, mechanical, and electrical interactions that occur in the cellular and extracellular milieu. In this work, we introduce the current approaches and limitations to static and stimuli-responsive tissue engineering, with a focus on electroactive materials. We consider the mechanisms of material interactions and the development of electroactive polymers for soft robotics to address how these developments can pave the way for ‘smart’ tissue engineering devices that recapitulate key elements of tissue bioelectromechanics. By highlighting the successes and current challenges in the materials development to support such dynamic devices, we summarize our findings with design guidelines to direct the future development of clinically translatable and efficacious tissue engineering constructs with the dynamic functionality of soft robots.