TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D Printable Electrically Conductive Hydrogel Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications
T2 - A Review
AU - Athukorala, Sandya Shiranthi
AU - Tran, Tuan Sang
AU - Balu, Rajkamal
AU - Truong, Vi Khanh
AU - Chapman, James
AU - Dutta, Naba Kumar
AU - Choudhury, Namita Roy
PY - 2021/2/1
Y1 - 2021/2/1
N2 - Electrically conductive hydrogels (ECHs), an emerging class of biomaterials, have garnered tremendous attention due to their potential for a wide variety of biomedical applications, from tissue-engineered scaffolds to smart bioelectronics. Along with the development of new hydrogel systems, 3D printing of such ECHs is one of the most advanced approaches towards rapid fabrication of future biomedical implants and devices with versatile designs and tuneable functionalities. In this review, an overview of the state-of-the-art 3D printed ECHs comprising conductive polymers (polythiophene, polyaniline and polypyrrole) and/or conductive fillers (graphene, MXenes and liquid metals) is provided, with an insight into mechanisms of electrical conductivity and design considerations for tuneable physiochemical properties and biocompatibility. Recent advances in the formulation of 3D printable bioinks and their practical applications are discussed; current challenges and limitations of 3D printing of ECHs are identified; new 3D printing-based hybrid methods for selective deposition and fabrication of controlled nanostructures are highlighted; and finally, future directions are proposed.
AB - Electrically conductive hydrogels (ECHs), an emerging class of biomaterials, have garnered tremendous attention due to their potential for a wide variety of biomedical applications, from tissue-engineered scaffolds to smart bioelectronics. Along with the development of new hydrogel systems, 3D printing of such ECHs is one of the most advanced approaches towards rapid fabrication of future biomedical implants and devices with versatile designs and tuneable functionalities. In this review, an overview of the state-of-the-art 3D printed ECHs comprising conductive polymers (polythiophene, polyaniline and polypyrrole) and/or conductive fillers (graphene, MXenes and liquid metals) is provided, with an insight into mechanisms of electrical conductivity and design considerations for tuneable physiochemical properties and biocompatibility. Recent advances in the formulation of 3D printable bioinks and their practical applications are discussed; current challenges and limitations of 3D printing of ECHs are identified; new 3D printing-based hybrid methods for selective deposition and fabrication of controlled nanostructures are highlighted; and finally, future directions are proposed.
KW - 3D printing
KW - Bioelectronics
KW - Conductive polymers
KW - Graphene
KW - Hydrogels
KW - Tissue engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100546860&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP160101627
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/IH150100003
U2 - 10.3390/polym13030474
DO - 10.3390/polym13030474
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85100546860
SN - 2073-4360
VL - 13
JO - Polymers
JF - Polymers
IS - 3
M1 - 474
ER -