Smart Electroactive Scaffolds: Integrating Electrical Signaling, Mechanical Responsiveness, and Biological Function for Next-Generation Regenerative Therapies
Electroactive Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22034/JATE.2026.243Keywords:
Electroactive scaffolds, Conductive biomaterials, Piezoelectric biomaterials, MXenesAbstract
Abstract
The extracellular microenvironment is far more than a passive structural framework; it represents a dynamic and electromechanically active niche that influences cellular behavior, tissue organization, and regenerative processes. Although conventional polymeric scaffolds have been successful in reproducing key structural and biochemical features of native tissues, they have generally ignored the critical role of endogenous bioelectric signals that regulate fundamental biological events, including wound repair, neural development, and cardiac electrical synchronization. In recent years, a fundamental shift has emerged in tissue engineering, moving away from the concept of scaffolds as inert structural supports toward the development of electroactive and
This review examines the major classes of electroactive materials, including intrinsically conductive polymers, metal-enhanced electroactive polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, piezoelectric ceramics and polymers, and emerging two-dimensional materials such as MXenes, with a focus on their physicochemical characteristics, fabrication strategies, and biological integration. A systematic literature search across PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies on electroactive scaffolds published primarily between 2010 and 2026; eligible experimental and translational reports were screened, and data were extracted and synthesized narratively by material class, design strategy, and tissue application. We further discuss how electrical conductivity, piezoelectric responses, and stimuli-responsive properties can regulate cellular functions and enhance regeneration in neural, cardiac, musculoskeletal, and skin tissues. Particular attention is given to the relationship between material properties and electrical stimulation strategies, the development of self-powered and multifunctional scaffold systems, and the remaining challenges associated with clinical translation, including long-term material stability, manufacturing standardization, and regulatory considerations.
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