Hydrogels and conductive hydrogels for implantable bioelectronics

Abstract Hydrogels are a class of soft materials, which display unique biomimetic properties to biological tissues. Their mechanical properties, high water content, and porosity resemble that extracellular matrix so cell growth proliferation can be reliably supported. In vitro studies report mechanosensitive cells found in the central nervous system, such as astrocytes glia, reduced activation, thus promoting lower foreign body reaction, when cultured on hydrogel substrates <1-kPa modulus. This observation provides an opportunity explore whether hydrogels should integrated or form implantable neural interfaces offer long-term biointegrated neurotechnologies. article highlights recent progress materials associated technologies for design bioelectronics. Essential structural, mechanical, electronical composite briefly reviewed. Manufacturing methods suitable these multiscale multifunctional presented. The final section presents hydrogel-based bioelectronics brain outlines current challenges future opportunities. Graphical abstract