Redox Polymers for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

This review will focus on the targeted design, synthesis and application of redox polymers for use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. We define redox polymers to encompass a variety of polymeric materials, from the multifunctional conjugated conducting polymers to graphene and its derivatives, and have been adopted for use in the engineering of several types of stimulus responsive tissues. We will review the fundamental properties of organic conducting polymers (OCPs) and graphene, and how their properties are being tailored to enhance material - biological interfacing. We will highlight the recent development of high-resolution 3D fabrication processes suitable for biomaterials, and how the fabrication of intricate scaffolds at biologically relevant scales is providing exciting opportunities for the application of redox polymers for both in-vitro and in-vivo tissue engineering. We will discuss the application of OCPs in the controlled delivery of bioactive compounds, and the electrical and mechanical stimulation of cells to drive behaviour and processes towards the generation of specific functional tissue. We will highlight the relatively recent advances in the use of graphene and the exploitation of its physicochemical and electrical properties in tissue engineering. Finally, we will look forward at the future of organic conductors in tissue engineering applications, and where the combination of materials development and fabrication processes will next unite to provide future breakthroughs.

Keywords: biofabrication; conducting polymer; graphene; poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); polyaniline; polypyrrole; tissue engineering.