Electroactive Smart Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The flexibility in polymer properties has allowed the development of a broad range of materials with electroactivity, such as intrinsically conductive conjugated polymers, percolated conductive composites, and ionic conductive hydrogels. These smart electroactive polymers can be designed to respond rationally under an electric stimulus, triggering outstanding properties suitable for biomedical applications. This review presents a general overview of the potential applications of these electroactive smart polymers in the field of tissue engineering and biomaterials. In particular, details about the ability of these electroactive polymers to: (1) stimulate cells in the context of tissue engineering by providing electrical current; (2) mimic muscles by converting electric energy into mechanical energy through an electromechanical response; (3) deliver drugs by changing their internal configuration under an electrical stimulus; and (4) have antimicrobial behavior due to the conduction of electricity, are discussed.

Electrical stimulation in bone tissue engineering treatments

“…Some exciting new developments that could be incorporated into these strategies include the use of electroactive smart polymeric biomaterials that could potentially combine scaffold and EStim into one. Recent advancements in polymer science, using "smart" biomaterials, that enable builtin stimulus/response behavior capabilities, have tremendous potential [150]. Electroactive smart polymeric biomaterials could be used to build scaffolds that offer precise control over the amount, duration, and localization of the electrical stimulus, thus obviating the need for bone stimulators.…”

Electroactive 3D Printed Scaffolds Based on Percolated Composites of Polycaprolactone with Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide for Antibacterial and Tissue Engineering Applications

“…The electroactive biomaterials are smart systems, which are able to deliver electrical stimulation (ES) to the surrounding media to impart an effect on the behavior of biological systems [1,2]. In particular, these biomaterials take advantage of the effect of a direct current (DC) or an electrical field on both cell proliferation and differentiation, stimulating, for instance, the regeneration of muscles, organs, and/or bones [3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…The reduction in bacterial growth under ES as selective biocidal effect has not been widely studied [1]. In particular, this electrical antibacterial effect has barely been studied in polymeric biomaterials, which presents an opportunity to complement several strategies developed to eradicate bacterial growth motivated by the increase in antibiotic resistance and the high cost of treating bacterial infections [17].…”

The Molecular Weight Dependence of Thermoelectric Properties of Poly (3-Hexylthiophene)

“…Conjugated polymers are of particular interest because of their excellent electronic properties, good physical and chemical stability, good solubility, processability, and the realization of low-cost and large-area products [26]. Through the simple tuning of their molecular structures, it is possible to modify their chemical and physical proprieties, so they offer great potential for meeting the requirements of various desired applications [27].…”