Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Multimodal Bioelectronic Interfaces

Implanted bioelectronic devices have already delivered a number of clinical successes; however, their potential in regenerative and prosthetic medicine is far from exhausted. One outstanding challenge is the engineering of materials that resemble the softness, hydration and bioactivity of the extracellular matrix while having functional capabilities for electrical and chemical stimulation and recording. Such “electronic tissues” could potentially enable seamless integration and multimodal information exchange with biological systems. <br/>In this talk, I will describe our recent efforts to design and characterise electrically conductive hydrogels. These are hybrid systems combining conductive and bio-polymer networks. Such materials exhibit tissue-like softness, high conductivity and can be functionalised with cell adhesive molecules. A promising application in implanted electrode arrays may be facilitated via direct ink writing (3D printing). I will also discuss hydrogel functionality beyond the electrical modality. Since our hydrogels can be assembled and dissolved using electrochemical methods, they can be used as on-demand delivery vehicles. In this context, I will discuss loading and release of diverse cargoes such as small molecules, nanoparticles and cells.