Role of Electrospun Conductive Polymeric Nanofibers for Inducing Neuronal Tissue Regeneration-A Novel Strategy for Targeting Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDGDs) are characterized by loss of neurons and serve as a major threat to older adults. Nanofibers fabricated using electrospinning technique have gained huge attention in the field of NTE. Nanofibers made up of conductive polymers serve as promising platform for enhancing nerve regeneration. Electrical stimulation (ES) is considered as a useful strategy to enhance tissue regeneration and extensive research is focussed on determining the potency of ES in promoting neuronal regeneration. Conductive polymers play a promising role in tissue regeneration as their conductivity helps in allowing cells grown on them to be stimulated under the influence of electrical signals. Conductive polymer-based platforms create suitable environment that promote neural cell adhesion, proliferation, and neurite outgrowth. Electroconductive platforms can enable tissue recovery, and current research is focussed on determining their role in neural regeneration. Despite of their good biocompatibility, the in vivo use of conductive polymers is limited due to their lack of biodegradability. To address this issue, blending conductive polymers with other degradable synthetic or natural polymers is a common approach. This strategy helps to create conductive and biodegradable platforms suitable for tissue engineering applications. This review describes about the role of conductive polymer-based electrospun nanofibers in neuron regeneration. Lay Summary. Conductive polymer-based platforms show promising roles in addressing the issues associated with NTE. Use of electrospun conductive polymeric nanofibers for neuronal regeneration serves as a promising approach in regenerative medicine. ES can promote multiplication of Schwann cells, neural cell differentiation, growth, and extension of axons, as well as enhance the secretion of neurotrophic factors. Blending conductive polymers with degradable synthetic or natural polymers can impart biodegradability and make them ideal platforms for NTE applications. Although several efforts have been made in developing electroconductive materials for biomedical applications, only a very few have been supported by clinal trials which serve as the major challenge of using them in the field of regenerative medicine. Future research must be focussed on fabricating electrically conductive, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials that can play a vital role in improving the regeneration of damaged tissues without causing side effects after implantation inside the host body.