Conductive Hydrogels for Multimodal Bioelectronic Interfaces

Hydrogels are attracting attention as materials for bioelectronic implants because they may solve some long-standing challenges encountered at the tissue-electrode interface. This will require appropriate viscoelasticity, hydration, bioactivity and dual electronic-ionic conductivity. Apart from improved integration with brain tissue, hydrogels may enable electrodes with superior charge injection capacity and capability for neuromodulation beyond the electrical domain (e.g. using biomolecules).<br/>In this talk I will present our efforts to combine Glycosaminoglycans and the conductive polymer PEDOT into interpenetrating network hydrogels that are soft, conductive and bioactive. The material system is highly tunable offering control over electrical and mechanical properties. Furthermore the hybrid material has enabled us to sequester and release small proteins such as growth factors. The release profiles can be electrically tuned. The released proteins are bioactive and can influence cells in culture.<br/>With this work we aim to advance the possibility to engineer synthetic bioelectronic materials that emulate some aspects of the extracellular matrix and may enable applications in next-generation tissue-mimetic bio interfaces.