Implantable cardiac patches and injectable hydrogels are among the most promising therapies for cardiac tissue regeneration following myocardial infarction. Incorporating electrical conductivity into these patches and hydrogels is found to be an efficient method to improve cardiac tissue function. Conductive nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube, graphene oxide, gold nanorod, as well as conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate are appealing because they possess the electroconductive properties of semiconductors with ease of processing and have potential to restore electrical signaling propagation through the infarct area. Numerous studies have utilized these materials for regeneration of biological tissues that possess electrical activities, such as cardiac tissue. In this review, recent studies on the use of electroconductive materials for cardiac tissue engineering and their fabrication methods are summarized. Moreover, recent advances in developing electroconductive materials for delivering therapeutic agents as one of emerging approaches for treating heart diseases and regenerating damaged cardiac tissues are highlighted.

Since ancient times, wound dressings have experienced many significant improvements. Evolution began using natural materials to merely cover wounds and advanced to used innovative techniques that can be customized to perform different impressive functions. Recent wound dressings, which are made of electrospun polymers, contain different active compounds, such as antimicrobial agents, that aid in wound healing and prevent dehydration and infection. The mentioned issues may influence the healing process, leading even to serious health risks for the patients. As a result, scientists are now working on novel wound bandages with improved antimicrobial properties. Electrospun polymeric nanofibers, because of their structural similarities to normal skin's extracellular matrix (ECM), bactericidal activity, and appropriateness to distribute bioactive molecules to the wound location, are regarded as good resources for enhancing skin regeneration and controlling wound infection. Herein, the latest findings on approaches for producing antimicrobial polymeric nanofibers using electrospinning and related processes are discussed. Recent advances in antibacterial biopolymeric nanofibers incorporating antimicrobial nanoparticles (silver, zinc oxide, copper oxide, etc.) are discussed. This review paper may raise significant issues, encourage additional research, and offer important insight into the potential area of antibacterial polymeric fibers.

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Despite recent advances in bone adhesives applied for full median sternotomy, the regeneration of bone defects has remained challenging since the healing process is hampered by poor adhesiveness, limited bioactivity, and lack of antibacterial functions. Bioinspired adhesives by marine organisms provide a novel concept to circumvent these problems. Herein, a dual crosslink strategy is employed in designing a multifaceted bioinspired adhesive consisting of a catechol amine-functionalized hyperbranched polymer (polydopamine-co-acrylate, PDA), bredigite (BR) nanoparticles, and Fe 3+ ions. The hybrid adhesives exhibit strong adhesion to various substrates such as poly(methyl methacrylate), glass, bone, and skin tissues through synergy between irreversible covalent and reversible noncovalent cross-linking, depending on the BR content. Noticeably, the adhesion strength of hybrid adhesives containing 2 wt % BR nanoparticles to bone tissues is 2.3 ± 0.8 MPa, which is about 3 times higher than that of pure PDA adhesives. We also demonstrate that these hybrid adhesives not only are bioactive and accelerate in vitro bone-like apatite formation but also exhibit antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, depending on the BR concentration. Furthermore, the superior cellular responses in contact with hybrid adhesives, including improved human osteosarcoma MG63 cell spreading and osteogenic differentiation, are achieved owing to the appropriate ion release and flexibility of the cross-linked double-network adhesive. In summary, multifunctional hybrid PDA/BR adhesives with appreciable osteoconductive, mechanical, and antibacterial properties represent the potential applications for median sternotomy surgery as a bone tissue adhesive.

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