Electrospun conductive polymer scaffolds: Tailoring fiber diameter and electrical properties for tissue engineering applications

Tissue engineering utilizes polymers for making scaffolds to enhance regenerative medicine through tissue repair and replacement techniques. Nevertheless, the instability and relatively low mechanical properties of polymeric biomaterials often require for the incorporation of additives. Conductive polymers, such as polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PANI), are major additives that enhance the electrical and mechanical properties of polymeric scaffolds. The present study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of conductive polymer additions on scaffold properties, tissue regeneration, and cellular activity. The addition of conductive polymers and the control of fiber diameter considerably improve the electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility of electrospun nanofibers, making them an important focus of extensive studies. While PEDOT improves fiber electrical properties, its influence on fiber diameter is not documented, unlike PANI and PPy. Typically, the diameter of the fiber decreases as the concentration of conductive polymers, such as PANI and PPy, increases. The precise effects of PEDOT and other materials, such as barium titanate (BaTiO3), within the polymer matrix depend on their concentrations and interactions. Although PANI, PCL, gelatin, and PLA are all efficient in the fabrication of uniform scaffolds, PANI is particularly recognized for its capacity for keeping consistent fiber diameters while enhancing conductivity across various polymer compositions. These advances are of special importance in the field of bone, cardiac and nerve tissue engineering. This review also evaluates the advantages of integrating various polymer types and emphasizes prospective opportunities for enhancing conductive polymer-based scaffolds in tissue engineering approaches.