Electroactive polymers for tissue regeneration: Developments and perspectives

Delivery of Active Peptides by Self-Healing, Biocompatible and Supramolecular Hydrogels

Supramolecular and biocompatible hydrogels with a tunable pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.6 lead to a wide variety of formulations useful for many different topical applications compatible with the skin pH. An in vitro viability/cytotoxicity test of the gel components demonstrated that they are non-toxic, as the cells continue to proliferate after 48 h. An analysis of the mechanical properties demonstrates that the hydrogels have moderate strength and an excellent linear viscoelastic range with the absence of a proper breaking point, confirmed with thixotropy experiments. Two cosmetic active peptides (Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2 and Palmitoyl tripeptide-5) were successfully added to the hydrogels and their transdermal permeation was analysed with Franz diffusion cells. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analyses of the withdrawn samples from the receiving solutions showed that Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2 permeated in a considerable amount while almost no transdermal permeation of Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 was observed.

Smart Biomaterials for Articular Cartilage Repair and Regeneration

Articular cartilage defects bring about disability and worldwide socioeconomic loss, therefore, articular cartilage repair and regeneration is recognized as a global issue. However, due to its avascular and nearly acellular characteristic, cartilage tissue regeneration ability is limited to some extent. Despite the availability of various treatment methods, including palliative drugs and surgical regenerative therapy, articular cartilage repair and regeneration still face major challenges due to the lack of appropriate methods and materials. Smart biomaterials can regulate cell behavior and provide excellent tissue repair and regeneration microenvironment, thus inducing articular cartilage repair and regeneration. This process is adjusted by controlling drug/bioactive factors release via responding to exogenous/endogenous stimuli, tailoring materials’ structure and function similar to native cartilage or providing physiochemical and physical signaling factors. Herein, smart biomaterials, recently applied in articular cartilage repair and regeneration, are elaborated from two aspects: smart drug release system and smart scaffolds. Furthermore, articular cartilage and its defects and advanced manufacturing techniques of smart biomaterials are discussed in brief. Finally, perspectives for smart biomaterials used in articular cartilage repair and regeneration are presented and the clinical translation of smart biomaterials is emphasized.

Cell Behavior Changes and Enzymatic Biodegradation of Hybrid Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-Based Scaffolds with an Enhanced Piezoresponse after the Addition of Reduced Graphene Oxide

This is the first comprehensive study of the impact of biodegradation on the structure, surface potential, mechanical and piezoelectric properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) scaffolds supplemented with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as well as cell behavior under static and dynamic mechanical conditions. There is no effect of the rGO addition up to 1.0 wt% on the rate of enzymatic biodegradation of PHB scaffolds for 30 d. The biodegradation of scaffolds leads to the depolymerization of the amorphous phase, resulting in an increase in the degree of crystallinity. Because of more regular dipole order in the crystalline phase, surface potential of all fibers increases after the biodegradation, with a maximum (361 ± 5 mV) after the addition of 1 wt% rGO into PHB as compared to pristine PHB fibers. By contrast, PHB-0.7rGO fibers manifest the strongest effective vertical (0.59 ± 0.03 pm V^-1 ) and lateral (1.06 ± 0.02 pm V^-1 ) piezoresponse owing to a greater presence of electroactive β-phase. In vitro assays involving primary human fibroblasts reveal equal biocompatibility and faster cell proliferation on PHB-0.7rGO scaffolds compared to pure PHB and nonpiezoelectric polycaprolactone scaffolds. Thus, the developed biodegradable PHB-rGO scaffolds with enhanced piezoresponse are promising for tissue-engineering applications.

Electrically stimulated 3D bioprinting of gelatin-polypyrrole hydrogel with dynamic semi-IPN network induces osteogenesis via collective signaling and immunopolarization

In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting of conductive hydrogels has made significant progress in the fabrication of high-resolution biomimetic structures with gradual complexity. However, the lack of an effective cross-linking strategy, ideal shear-thinning, appropriate yield strength, and higher print fidelity with excellent biofunctionality remains a challenge for developing cell-laden constructs, hindering the progress of extrusion-based 3D printing of conductive polymers. In this study, a highly stable and conductive bioink was developed based on polypyrrole-grafted gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA-PPy) with a triple cross-linking (thermo-photo-ionically) strategy for direct ink writing-based 3D printing applications. The triple-cross-linked hydrogel with dynamic semi-inner penetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) displayed excellent shear-thinning properties, with improved shape fidelity and structural stability during 3D printing. The as-fabricated hydrogel ink also exhibited "plug-like non-Newtonian" flow behavior with minimal disturbance. The bioprinted GelMA-PPy-Fe hydrogel showed higher cytocompatibility (93%) of human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) under microcurrent stimulation (250 mV/20 min/day). Moreover, the self-supporting and tunable mechanical properties of the GelMA-PPy bioink allowed 3D printing of high-resolution biological architectures. As a proof of concept, we printed a full-thickness rat bone model to demonstrate the structural stability. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the 3D bioprinted hBMSCs highly expressed gene hallmarks for NOTCH/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/SMAD signaling while down-regulating the Wnt/β-Catenin and epigenetic signaling pathways during osteogenic differentiation for up to 7 days. These results suggest that the developed GelMA-PPy bioink is highly stable and non-toxic to hBMSCs and can serve as a promising platform for bone tissue engineering applications.

Worldwide productivity and research trend of publications concerning electroactive materials and spinal cord injury: A bibliometric study

Purpose: We investigated the current state and trends in the area during the previous 10 years using bibliometric approaches to evaluate the global scientific output of research on electroactive materials and spinal cord injury. Methods: Studies on spinal cord injury in electroactive materials that were published between 2012 and 2022 were located using the Web of science (WOS) datebase. The software programs bibliometrix R-package and CiteSpace were used to do quantitative analyses of annual publications, nation, author, institution, journal source, co-cited references, and keywords. The studies were categorized by the research's main points using a qualitative analysis, and publications having more than 10 citations each year. Results: In the final analysis, 1,330 relevant papers or reviews were included. There is an increased tendency in both the average annual citation rate and the number of publications in the discipline. The United States and the University of Toronto are the countries and institutions that have contributed the most to this discipline, respectively. The majority of authors are from the China and United States. Zhang Y is the author with the most published articles and holds the top position in the cited author h-index species. The journal with the highest number of published articles is "Disability and rehabilitation"; the journal is divided into four main areas including physics, materials, chemistry, molecular, and biology. The keyword analysis revealed a shift in research hotspots from schwann cell, fracture, and urinary disorders to carbon-based materials, functional recovery, and surgery. Analysis of qualitative data revealed that the role and mechanism of injectable conductive hydrogels in spinal cord healing after damage is a hot topic of current study, with the mechanism primarily focusing on the inhibition of oxidative stress (Nrf2) and apoptosis (Casepase 3). Conclusion: Our bibliometric analysis indicates that research on electroactive materials for spinal cord injury remains an active field of study. Moreover, contemporary research is concentrated on carbon-based materials, functional rehabilitation, and surgery.

Electrically conductive scaffolds mimicking the hierarchical structure of cardiac myofibers

Electrically conductive scaffolds, mimicking the unique directional alignment of muscle fibers in the myocardium, are fabricated using the 3D printing micro-stereolithography technique. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (photo-sensitive polymer), Irgacure 819 (photo-initiator), curcumin (dye) and polyaniline (conductive polymer) are blended to make the conductive ink that is crosslinked using free radical photo-polymerization reaction. Curcumin acts as a liquid filter and prevents light from penetrating deep into the photo-sensitive solution and plays a central role in the 3D printing process. The obtained scaffolds demonstrate well defined morphology with an average pore size of 300 ± 15 μm and semi-conducting properties with a conductivity of ~ 10^-6 S/m. Cyclic voltammetry analyses detect the electroactivity and highlight how the electron transfer also involve an ionic diffusion between the polymer and the electrolyte solution. Scaffolds reach their maximum swelling extent 30 min after immersing in the PBS at 37 °C and after 4 weeks they demonstrate a slow hydrolytic degradation rate typical of polyethylene glycol network. Conductive scaffolds display tunable conductivity and provide an optimal environment to the cultured mouse cardiac progenitor cells.

Tissue Engineering in Neuroscience: Applications and Perspectives

Neurological disorders have always been a threat to human physical and mental health nowadays, which are closely related to the nonregeneration of neurons in the nervous system (NS). The damage to the NS is currently difficult to repair using conventional therapies, such as surgery and medication. Therefore, repairing the damaged NS has always been a vast challenge in the area of neurology. Tissue engineering (TE), which integrates the cell biology and materials science to reconstruct or repair organs and tissues, has widespread applications in bone, periodontal tissue defects, skin repairs, and corneal transplantation. Recently, tremendous advances have been made in TE regarding neuroscience. In this review, we summarize TE's recent progress in neuroscience, including pathological mechanisms of various neurological disorders, the concepts and classification of TE, and the most recent development of TE in neuroscience. Lastly, we prospect the future directions and unresolved problems of TE in neuroscience.

Electroactive Biomaterials for Facilitating Bone Defect Repair under Pathological Conditions

Bone degeneration associated with various diseases is increasing due to rapid aging, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy diets. Living bone tissue has bioelectric properties critical to bone remodeling, and bone degeneration under various pathological conditions results in significant changes to these bioelectric properties. There is growing interest in utilizing biomimetic electroactive biomaterials that recapitulate the natural electrophysiological microenvironment of healthy bone tissue to promote bone repair. This review first summarizes the etiology of degenerative bone conditions associated with various diseases such as type II diabetes, osteoporosis, periodontitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis, and metastatic osteolysis. Next, the diverse array of natural and synthetic electroactive biomaterials with therapeutic potential are discussed. Putative mechanistic pathways by which electroactive biomaterials can mitigate bone degeneration are critically examined, including the enhancement of osteogenesis and angiogenesis, suppression of inflammation and osteoclastogenesis, as well as their anti-bacterial effects. Finally, the limited research on utilization of electroactive biomaterials in the treatment of bone degeneration associated with the aforementioned diseases are examined. Previous studies have mostly focused on using electroactive biomaterials to treat bone traumatic injuries. It is hoped that this review will encourage more research efforts on the use of electroactive biomaterials for treating degenerative bone conditions.

Biomaterials-Based Cell Therapy for Myocardial Tissue Regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been the leading cause of death worldwide during the past several decades. Cell loss is the main problem that results in cardiac dysfunction and further mortality. Cell therapy aiming to replenish the lost cells is proposed to treat CVDs especially ischemic heart diseases which lead to a big portion of cell loss. Due to the direct injection's low cell retention and survival ratio, cell therapy using biomaterials as cell carriers has attracted more and more attention because of their promotion of cell delivery and maintenance at the aiming sites. In this review, the three main factors involved in cell therapy for myocardial tissue regeneration: cell sources (somatic cells, stem cells, and engineered cells), chemical components of cell carriers (natural materials, synthetic materials, and electroactive materials), and categories of cell delivery materials (patches, microspheres, injectable hydrogels, nanofiber and microneedles, etc.) are systematically summarized. An introduction of the methods including magnetic resonance/radionuclide/photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging for tracking the behavior of transplanted cells in vivo is also included. Current challenges of biomaterials-based cell therapy and their future directions are provided to give both beginners and professionals a clear view of the development and future trends in this area.

3D Fabrication and Characterisation of Electrically Receptive PCL-Graphene Scaffolds for Bioengineered In Vitro Tissue Models

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a well-established biomaterial, offering extensive mechanical attributes along with low cost, biocompatibility, and biodegradability; however, it lacks hydrophilicity, bioactivity, and electrical conductivity. Advances in 3D fabrication technologies allow for these sought-after attributes to be incorporated into the scaffolds during fabrication. In this study, solvent-free Fused Deposition Modelling was employed to fabricate 3D scaffolds from PCL with increasing amounts of graphene (G), in the concentrations of 0.75, 1.5, 3, and 6% (w/w). The PCL+G scaffolds created were characterised physico-chemically, electrically, and biologically. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that the scaffold outer surface contained both PCL and G, with the G component relatively uniformly distributed. Water contact angle measurement demonstrated that as the amount of G in the scaffold increases (0.75-6% w/w), hydrophobicity decreases; mean contact angle for pure PCL was recorded as 107.22 ± 9.39°, and that with 6% G (PCL+6G) as 77.56 ± 6.75°. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy demonstrated a marked increase in electroactivity potential with increasing G concentration. Cell viability results indicated that even the smallest addition of G (0.75%) resulted in a significant improvement in electroactivity potential and bioactivity compared with that for pure PCL, with 1.5 and 3% exhibiting the highest statistically significant increases in cell proliferation.

Fabrication and evaluation of herbal beads to slow cell ageing

Several therapies and cosmetics are available commercially to prevent or delay cell ageing, which manifests as premature cell death and skin dullness. Use of herbal products such as Aloe vera, curcumin, vitamin C-enriched natural antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory biomolecules are potential ways to prevent or delay ageing. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is also a rich source of collagen; glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) also play an essential role in healing and preventing ageing. It is important to use an extended therapeutic process to prolong the effectiveness of these products, despite the fact that they all have significant anti-ageing properties and the ability to regenerate healthy cells. Encapsulated herbal components are therefore designed to overcome the challenge of ensuring continued treatment over time to prolong the effects of a bioactive component after in situ administration. To study their synergistic effects on a cellular level, alginate, Aloe vera, and orange peel extract were encapsulated in bio-polymeric foaming beads and modified with eggshell membrane protein (ESMP) at various concentrations (1 gm, 2 gm, and 5 gm): (A-Av-OP, A-Av-OP-ESMP1, ESMP2, and ESMP3). Analysis of the structural and functional properties of foaming beads showed interconnected 3D porous structure, a surface-functionalized group for entrapment of ESMP, and a significant reduction in pore size (51-35 m) and porosity (80%-60%). By performing DPPH assays, HRBC stabilization assays, and antibacterial tests, the beads were assessed as a natural anti-ageing product with sustained release of molecules effective against inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and microbial contamination. MTT assays were conducted using in vitro cell cultures to demonstrate cytocompatibility (in mouse 3T3 fibroblast cells) and cytotoxicity (in human carcinoma HeLa cells). Our study demonstrates that bio-polymeric ESMP beads up to 2 g (A-Av-OP-ESMP2) are practical and feasible natural remedies for suspending defective cell pathways, preventing cell ageing, and promoting healthy cell growth, resulting in a viable and practical natural remedy or therapeutic system.

Advancements in the Additive Manufacturing of Magnesium and Aluminum Alloys through Laser-Based Approach

Complex structures can now be manufactured easily utilizing AM technologies to meet the pre-requisite objectives such as reduced part numbers, greater functionality, and lightweight, among others. Polymers, metals, and ceramics are the few materials that can be used in AM technology, but metallic materials (Magnesium and Aluminum) are attracting more attention from the research and industrial point of view. Understanding the role processing parameters of laser-based additive manufacturing is critical to maximize the usage of material in forming the product geometry. LPBF (Laser powder-based fusion) method is regarded as a potent and effective additive manufacturing technique for creating intricate 3D forms/parts with high levels of precision and reproducibility together with acceptable metallurgical characteristics. While dealing with LBPF, some degree of porosity is acceptable because it is unavoidable; hot ripping and cracking must be avoided, though. The necessary manufacturing of pre-alloyed powder and ductility remains to be the primary concern while dealing with a laser-based additive manufacturing approach. The presence of the Al-Si eutectic phase in AlSi10Mg and AlSi12 alloy attributing to excellent castability and low shrinkage, attaining the most attention in the laser-based approach. Related studies with these alloys along with precipitation hardening and heat treatment processing were discussed. The Pure Mg, Mg-Al alloy, Mg-RE alloy, and Mg-Zn alloy along with the mechanical characteristics, electrochemical durability, and biocompatibility of Mg-based material have been elaborated in the work-study. The review article also summarizes the processing parameters of the additive manufacturing powder-based approach relating to different Mg-based alloys. For future aspects, the optimization of processing parameters, composition of the alloy, and quality of powder material used will significantly improve the ductility of additively manufactured Mg alloy by the LPBF approach. Other than that, the recycling of Mg-alloy powder hasn't been investigated yet. Meanwhile, the post-processing approach, including a homogeneous coating on the porous scaffolds, will mark the suitability in terms of future advancements in Mg and Al-based alloys.

Janus electro-microenvironment membrane with surface-selective osteogenesis/gingival healing ability for guided bone regeneration

Guided bone regeneration is widely applied in clinical practice to treat alveolar bone defects. However, the rate of healing of severe alveolar bone defects is slow, and there is a high incidence of soft tissue wound dehiscence. In this study, we propose a barrier membrane with a Janus electro-microenvironment (JEM) to achieve side-selective bone regeneration and soft tissue healing. The JEM membrane was constructed using a polarized polyvinylidene fluoride ferroelectric membrane with different surface potentials on either side. It promoted osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration on the negatively polarized side (JEM-) and soft tissue regeneration on the positively polarized side (JEM+). Further investigation revealed that the JEM-mediated promotion of bone formation was related to mitochondrial autophagy, as indicated by depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression of LC3, Pink I, and Parkin. Moreover, the gingival healing promoted by JEM+ was related to oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, as indicated by the upregulation of mitochondrial complexes I–V and an increase in ATP generation. The design concept of the JEM provides a new avenue for regulating tissue regeneration between different tissue interfaces.

Biobased and Programmable Electroadhesive Metasurfaces

Electroadhesion has shown the potential to deliver versatile handling devices because of its simplicity of actuation and rapid response. Current electroadhesion systems have, however, significant difficulties in adapting to external objects with complex shapes. Here, a novel concept of metasurface is proposed by combining the use of natural fibers (flax) and shape memory epoxy polymers in a hygromorphic and thermally actuated composite (HyTemC). The biobased material composite can be used to manipulate adhesive surfaces with high precision and controlled environmental actuation. The HyTemC concept is preprogrammed to store controllable moisture and autonomous desorption when exposed to the operational environment, and can reach predesigned bending curvatures up to 31.9 m^-1 for concave and 29.6 m^-1 for convex shapes. The actuated adhesive surface shapes are generated via the architected metasurface structure, incorporating an electroadhesive component integrated with the programmable biobased materials. This biobased metasurface stimulated by the external environment provides a large taxonomy of shapes─from flat, circular, single/double concave, and wavy, to piecewise, polynomial, trigonometric, and airfoil configurations. The objects handled by the biobased metasurface can be fragile because of the high conformal matching between contacting surfaces and the absence of compressive adhesion. These natural fiber-based and environmentally friendly electroadhesive metasurfaces can significantly improve the design of programmable object handling technologies, and also provide a sustainable route to lower the carbon and emission footprint of smart structures and robotics.

4th Generation Biomaterials Based on PVDF-Hydroxyapatite Composites Produced by Electrospinning: Processing and Characterization

Biomaterials that effectively act in biological systems, as in treatment and healing of damaged or lost tissues, must be able to mimic the properties of the body's natural tissues in its various aspects (chemical, physical, mechanical and surface). These characteristics influence cell adhesion and proliferation and are crucial for the success of the treatment for which a biomaterial will be required. In this context, the electrospinning process has gained prominence in obtaining fibers of micro- and nanometric sizes from polymeric solutions aiming to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering. In this manuscript, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was used as a polymeric matrix for the manufacture of piezoelectric scaffolds, exploring the formation of the β-PVDF piezoelectric phase. Micro- and nanometric hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were incorporated as a dispersed phase in this matrix, aiming to produce multifunctional composite membranes also with bioactive properties. The results show that it is possible to produce membranes containing micro- and nanofibers of the composite by the electrospinning process. The HA particles show good dispersion in the polymer matrix and predominance of β-PVDF phase. Also, the composite showed apatite growth on its surface after 21 days of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Tests performed on human fibroblasts culture revealed that the electrospun membranes have low cytotoxicity attesting that the composite shows great potential to be used in biomedical applications as bone substitutions and wound healing.

Emerging polymeric biomaterials and manufacturing techniques in regenerative medicine

The current demand for patients’ organ and tissue repair and regeneration is continually increasing, where autologous or allograft is the golden standard treatment in the clinic. However, due to the shortage of donors, mismatched size and modality, functional loss of the donor region, possible immune rejection, and so forth, the application of auto‐/allo‐grafts is frequently hindered in many cases. In order to solve these problems, artificial constructs structurally and functionally imitating the extracellular matrix have been developed as substitutes to promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation, and ultimately forming functional tissues or organs for better tissue regeneration. Particularly, polymeric materials have been widely utilized in regenerative medicine because of their ease of manufacturing, flexibility, biocompatibility, as well as good mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. This review presents a comprehensive overview of a variety of polymeric materials, their fabrication methods as well applications in regenerative medicine. Finally, we discussed the future challenges and perspectives in the development and clinical transformation of polymeric biomaterials.

Possible Synergies of Nanomaterial-Assisted Tissue Regeneration in Plasma Medicine: Mechanisms and Safety Concerns

Cold atmospheric plasma and nanomedicine originally emerged as individual domains, but are increasingly applied in combination with each other. Most research is performed in the context of cancer treatment, with only little focus yet on the possible synergies. Many questions remain on the potential of this promising hybrid technology, particularly regarding regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this perspective article, we therefore start from the fundamental mechanisms in the individual technologies, in order to envision possible synergies for wound healing and tissue recovery, as well as research strategies to discover and optimize them. Among these strategies, we demonstrate how cold plasmas and nanomaterials can enhance each other's strengths and overcome each other's limitations. The parallels with cancer research, biotechnology and plasma surface modification further serve as inspiration for the envisioned synergies in tissue regeneration. The discovery and optimization of synergies may also be realized based on a profound understanding of the underlying redox- and field-related biological processes. Finally, we emphasize the toxicity concerns in plasma and nanomedicine, which may be partly remediated by their combination, but also partly amplified. A widespread use of standardized protocols and materials is therefore strongly recommended, to ensure both a fast and safe clinical implementation.

Effect of the Particle Size and Layer Thickness of GNP Fillers on the Dielectric Properties and Actuated Strain of GNP-PDMS Composites

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), a type of electroactive polymers (EAPs), are smart materials that are used in various fields such as artificial muscles and biomimetic robots. In this study, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), which are conductive carbon fillers, were added to a widely used DEA, namely, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to improve its low actuated strain. Four grades of GNPs were used: H5, H25, M5, and M25 (here, the number following the letter indicates the average particle size of the GNPs in μm). The average layer thickness of the H grade is 13−14 nm and that of the M grade is 5−7 nm. PDMS composites were prepared by adding 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt% of each GNP, following which the mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and actuated strain of the composites were measured. The mechanical properties were found to increase as the particle size increased. Regarding the dielectric characteristics, it was found that the higher the aspect ratio of the filler, the easier the formation of a micro-capacitor network in the composite—this led to an increase in the dielectric constant. In addition, the higher amounts of GNPs in the composites also led to an increase in the dielectric constant. For the actuated strain analysis, the electromechanical sensitivity was calculated using the ratio of the dielectric constant to the Young’s modulus, which is proportional to the strain. However, it was found that when the loss tangent was high, the performance of the actuated strain decreased owing to the conversion of electric energy into thermal energy and leakage current loss. As a result, the highest actuated strain was exhibited by the M25 composite, with an actuated strain value of 3.01% measured at a low electric field (<4 kV/mm). In conclusion, we proved that the GNP−PDMS composites with a thin layer and large particle size exhibited high deformation.

Plasmon-Enhanced Electrocatalysis of Conductive Polymer-Based Nano-Heterojunction for Small Molecule Metabolites Diagnostics

Conductive polymers are promising electrode candidates in the nonenzymatic catalytic detection of small molecule metabolites, due to the tunable electronic conductivity and versatile modifiability. However, the complex catalytic reaction pathway of conductive polymers results in lower detection sensitivity and a narrower linear range compared with clinical metal-based and carbon-based electrodes. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), characterized by deep strong light-matter coupling, has great potential in driving surface catalytic reactions at an ultrafast rate. Here, we constructed a salix argyracea-like polypyrrole nanowires/silver nanoparticles (PPy/AgNPs) heterojunction electrode using polydopamine as a dopant and chelator. Through cyclic voltammetry, the Mott-Schottky curve, and COMSOL simulation, we demonstrated that the LSPR-excited photocarriers enhanced PPy/AgNPs electrode electrocatalysis. Thus, the detection current response and linear range were significantly improved under the LSPR excitation when taking glucose and hydrogen peroxide as models of small molecule metabolites. Furthermore, we discussed the LSPR-enhanced detection mechanism of PPy/AgNPs electrode from the aspects of the Tafel slope, the apparent electron diffusion coefficient, and the charge transfer resistance. This strategy opens a new avenue toward the design of LSPR-enhanced conductive polymer electrodes.

Conductive and Semiconductive Nanocomposite-Based Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and the most common cause is myocardial infarction. Therefore, appropriate approaches should be used to repair damaged heart tissue. Recently, cardiac tissue engineering approaches have been extensively studied. Since the creation of the nature of cardiovascular tissue engineering, many advances have been made in cellular and scaffolding technologies. Due to the hydrated and porous structures of the hydrogel, they are used as a support matrix to deliver cells to the infarct tissue. In heart tissue regeneration, bioactive and biodegradable hydrogels are required by simulating native tissue microenvironments to support myocardial wall stress in addition to preserving cells. Recently, the use of nanostructured hydrogels has increased the use of nanocomposite hydrogels and has revolutionized the field of cardiac tissue engineering. Therefore, to overcome the limitation of the use of hydrogels due to their mechanical fragility, various nanoparticles of polymers, metal, and carbon are used in tissue engineering and create a new opportunity to provide hydrogels with excellent properties. Here, the types of synthetic and natural polymer hydrogels, nanocarbon-based hydrogels, and other nanoparticle-based materials used for cardiac tissue engineering with emphasis on conductive nanostructured hydrogels are briefly introduced.

Modulating the surface potential of microspheres by phase transition in strontium doped barium titanate to restore the electric microenvironment for bone regeneration

The endogenous electrical potential generated by native bone and periosteum plays a key role in maintaining bone mass and quality. Inspired by the electrical properties of bone, different negative surface potentials are built on microspheres to restore electric microenvironment for powerful bone regeneration, which was prepared by the combination of strontium-doped barium titanate (Sr-BTO) nanoparticles and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with high electrostatic voltage field (HEV). The surface potential was modulated through regulating the phase composition of nanoparticles in microspheres by the doping amount of strontium ion (Sr2+). As a result, the 0.1Sr-BTO/PLGA group shows the lowest surface potential and its relative permittivity is closer to natural bone. As expected, the 0.1Sr-BTO/PLGA microspheres performed cytocompatibility, osteogenic activity in vitro and enhance bone regeneration in vivo. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of Sr-BTO/PLGA microspheres to promote osteogenic differentiation was further explored. The lower surface potential generated on Sr-BTO/PLGA microspheres regulates cell membrane potential and leads to an increase in the intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration, which could activate the Calcineurin (CaN)/Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling pathway to promote osteogenic differentiation. This study established an effective method to modulate the surface potential, which provides a prospective exploration for electrical stimulation therapy. The 0.1Sr-BTO/PLGA microsphere with lower surface potential and bone-matched dielectric constant is expected to have great potential in the field of bone regeneration.

Polylactide Perspectives in Biomedicine: From Novel Synthesis to the Application Performance

The incessant developments in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, particularly, customised solutions for specific diseases with targeted therapeutic treatments, require the design of multicomponent materials with multifunctional capabilities. Biodegradable polymers offer a variety of tailored physicochemical properties minimising health adverse side effects at a low price and weight, which are ideal to design matrices for hybrid materials. PLAs emerge as an ideal candidate to develop novel materials as are endowed withcombined ambivalent performance parameters. The state-of-the-art of use of PLA-based materials aimed at pharmaceutical and biomedical applications is reviewed, with an emphasis on the correlation between the synthesis and the processing conditions that define the nanostructure generated, with the final performance studies typically conducted with either therapeutic agents by in vitro and/or in vivo experiments or biomedical devices.

Thermosensitive chitosan/poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) nanoparticles embedded in aniline pentamer/silk fibroin/polyacrylamide as an electroactive injectable hydrogel for healing critical-sized calvarial bone defect in aging rat model

Thermosensitive nanoparticles with phase transition abilities have been considered as suitable materials in biomedical fields, especially drug delivery systems. Moreover, electroactive injectable hydrogels supporting bone regeneration of the elderly will highly be desired in bone tissue engineering applications. Herein, thermosensitive nanoparticles were fabricated using chitosan/poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) for simvastatin acid delivery. The nanoparticles were incorporated into electroactive injectable hydrogels based on aniline pentamer/silk fibroin/polyacrylamide containing vitamin C. The nanoparticles had thermosensitive properties as simvastatin acid had higher release rates at 37 than 23 °C without significant burst release. The hydrogels also revealed an appropriate gelation time, stable mechanical and rheological characteristics, high water absorbency, and proper biodegradability. In vitro studies indicated that the hydrogel was biocompatible and nontoxic, especially those containing drugs. Implantation of the hydrogels containing both simvastatin acid and vitamin C into the critical calvarial bone defect of the aged rat also demonstrated significant enhancement of bone healing after 4 and 8 weeks post-implantation. We found that the electroactive injectable hydrogels containing thermosensitive nanoparticles exhibited great potential for treating bone defects in the elderly rats.

Synergistic Effect of Reinforced Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Boron Nitride Nanosheet-Based Hybrid Piezoelectric PLLA Scaffold for Efficient Bone Tissue Regeneration

Electrospun poly(l-lactic acid) nanofibers (PLLANFs) have been receiving considerable attention in bone tissue engineering (BTE) due to their tunable biodegradability and remarkable in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. However, deterioration in the mechanical strength of PLLANFs during the regeneration process leads to low osteoinductive performances. Additionally, their high hydrophobicity and limited piezoelectric properties have to be addressed concerning BTE. Herein, we report an efficient approach for fabricating high-performance PLLANF hybrid scaffolds for BTE by reinforcing amphiphilic triblock copolymer pluronic F-127 (PL)-functionalized nanofillers (PL-functionalized carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PL-cMWCNTs) and PL-functionalized exfoliated boron nitride nanosheets (PL-EBN)). The synergistic reinforcement effect from one-dimensional (1D) electrically conducting PL-cMWCNTs and two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric PL-EBN was remarkable in PLLANFs, and the obtained PL-Hybrid (PL-cMWCNTs + PL-EBN) reinforced scaffolds have outperformed the mechanical strength, wettability, and piezoelectric performances of pristine PLLANFs. Consequently, in vitro biocompatibility results reveal the enhanced proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells on PL-Hybrid nanofiber scaffolds. Furthermore, the ALP activity, ARS staining, and comparable osteogenic gene expression results demonstrated significant osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells on PL-Hybrid nanofiber scaffolds than on the pristine PLLANF scaffold. Thus, the reported approach for constructing high-performance piezoelectric biodegradable scaffolds for BTE by the synergistic effect of PL-cMWCNTs and PL-EBN holds great promise in tissue engineering applications.

Bioelectricity-coupling patches for repairing impaired myocardium

Cardiac abnormalities, which account for extensive burdens on public health and economy, drive necessary attempts to revolutionize the traditional therapeutic system. Advances in cardiac tissue engineering have expanded a highly efficacious platform to address cardiovascular events, especially cardiac infarction. Current efforts to overcome biocompatible limitations highlight the constructs of a conductive cardiac patch to accelerate the industrial and clinical landscape that is amenable for patient-accurate therapy, regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug delivery. With the notion that cardiac tissue synchronically contracts triggered by electrical pulses, the cardiac patches based on conductive materials are developed and treated on the dysfunctional heart. In this review, we systematically summarize distinct conductive materials serving as the most promising alternatives (conductive nanomaterials, conductive polymers, piezoelectric polymers, and ionic electrolytes) to achieve electric signal transmission and engineered cardiac tissues. Existing applications are discussed considering how these patches containing conductive candidates are fabricated into diverse forms with major strategies. Ultimately, we try to define a new concept as a bioelectricity-coupling patch that provides a favorable cardiac micro-environment for cardiac functional activities. Underlying challenges and prospects are presented regarding industrial processing and cardiovascular treatment of conductive patch progress. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Cardiovascular Disease.

Recent Advances in Intelligent Wearable Medical Devices Integrating Biosensing and Drug Delivery

The primary roles of precision medicine are to perform real-time examination, administer on-demand medication, and apply instruments continuously. However, most current therapeutic systems implement these processes separately, leading to treatment interruption and limited recovery in patients. Personalized healthcare and smart medical treatment have greatly promoted research on and development of biosensing and drug-delivery integrated systems, with intelligent wearable medical devices (IWMDs) as typical systems, which have received increasing attention because of their non-invasive and customizable nature. Here, the latest progress in research on IWMDs is reviewed, including their mechanisms of integrating biosensing and on-demand drug delivery. The current challenges and future development directions of IWMDs are also discussed.

Electrical stimulation: Effective cue to direct osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a major role in bone tissue engineering (BTE) thanks to their capacity for osteogenic differentiation and being easily available. In vivo, MSCs are exposed to an electroactive microenvironment in the bone niche, which has piezoelectric properties. The correlation between the electrically active milieu and bone's ability to adapt to mechanical stress and self-regenerate has led to using electrical stimulation (ES) as physical cue to direct MSCs differentiation towards the osteogenic lineage in BTE. This review summarizes the different techniques to electrically stimulate MSCs to induce their osteoblastogenesis in vitro, including general electrical stimulation and substrate mediated stimulation by means of conductive or piezoelectric cell culture supports. Several aspects are covered, including stimulation parameters, treatment times and cell culture media to summarize the best conditions for inducing MSCs osteogenic commitment by electrical stimulation, from a critical point of view. Electrical stimulation activates different signaling pathways, including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) Smad-dependent or independent, regulated by mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and p38. The roles of voltage gate calcium channels (VGCC) and integrins are also highlighted according to their application technique and parameters, mainly converging in the expression of RUNX2, the master regulator of the osteogenic differentiation pathway. Despite the evident lack of homogeneity in the approaches used, the ever-increasing scientific evidence confirms ES potential as an osteoinductive cue, mimicking aspects of the in vivo microenvironment and moving one step forward to the translation of this approach into clinic.

Bio-piezoelectricity: fundamentals and applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

In recent years, smart materials have piqued the interest of scientists and physicians in the biomedical community owing to their ability to modify their properties in response to an external stimulation or changes in their surroundings. Biocompatible piezoelectric materials are an interesting group of smart materials due to their ability to produce electrical charges without an external power source. Electric signals produced by piezoelectric scaffolds can renew and regenerate tissues through special pathways like that found in the extracellular matrix. This review summarizes the piezoelectric phenomenon, piezoelectric effects generated within biological tissues, piezoelectric biomaterials, and their applications in tissue engineering and their use as biosensors.

Electrospun piezoelectric scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering

The use of smart materials in tissue engineering is becoming increasingly appealing to provide additional functionalities and control over cell fate. The stages of tissue development and regeneration often require various electrical and electromechanical cues supported by the extracellular matrix, which is often neglected in most tissue engineering approaches. Particularly, in cardiac cells, electrical signals modulate cell activity and are responsible for the maintenance of the excitation-contraction coupling. Addition of electroconductive and topographical cues improves the biomimicry of cardiac tissues and plays an important role in driving cells towards the desired phenotype. Current platforms used to apply electrical stimulation to cells in vitro often require large external equipment and wires and electrodes immersed in the culture media, limiting the scalability and applicability of this process. Piezoelectric materials represent a shift in paradigm in materials and methods aimed at providing electrical stimulation to cardiac cells since they can produce and deliver electrical signals to cells and tissues by mechanoelectrical transduction. Despite the ability of piezoelectric materials to mimic the mechanoelectrical transduction of the heart, the use of these materials is limited in cardiac tissue engineering and methods to characterise piezoelectricity are often built in-house, which poses an additional difficulty when comparing results from the literature. In this work, we aim at providing an overview of the main challenges in cardiac tissue engineering and how piezoelectric materials could offer a solution to them. A revision on the existing literature in electrospun piezoelectric materials applied to cardiac tissue engineering is performed for the first time, as electrospinning plays an important role in the manufacturing of scaffolds with enhanced piezoelectricity and extracellular matrix native-like morphology. Finally, an overview of the current techniques used to evaluate piezoelectricity and their limitations is provided.

Harnessing Oxidative Microenvironment for In Vivo Synthesis of Subcellular Conductive Polymer Microesicles Enhances Nerve Reconstruction

Conductive polymers (CPs) are promising biomaterials to address signal connection at biointerfaces for tissue regeneration. However, regulating material microstructure at the subcellular scale to provide a more seamless interface between conductive substrates and cells remains a great challenge. Here, we demonstrate that chemical factors and enzyme-carried subcellular structures at lesion site provide a natural bioreactor to self-assemble conductive microvesicles (CMVs) for improving bioelectrical signal reconstruction. The synthesized CMVs contribute to the electrical conduction of the injured nerve in the early stage. Moreover, CMVs are eventually expelled via lymphatic capillary to minimize space-occupying and chronic inflammation. Therefore, we provide a prototype to integrate specific physiological microenvironments and polymer chemistry to manufacture subcellular functional materials with self-adaptive interface in vivo for biomedical applications.

Conductive Supramolecular Polymer Nanocomposites with Tunable Properties to Manipulate Cell Growth and Functions

Synthetic bioactive nanocomposites show great promise in biomedicine for use in tissue growth, wound healing and the potential for bioengineered skin substitutes. Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers (3A-PCL) can be combined with graphite crystals to form graphite/3A-PCL composites with tunable physical properties. When used as a bioactive substrate for cell culture, graphite/3A-PCL composites have an extremely low cytotoxic activity on normal cells and a high structural stability in a medium with red blood cells. A series of in vitro studies demonstrated that the resulting composite substrates can efficiently interact with cell surfaces to promote the adhesion, migration, and proliferation of adherent cells, as well as rapid wound healing ability at the damaged cellular surface. Importantly, placing these substrates under an indirect current electric field at only 0.1 V leads to a marked acceleration in cell growth, a significant increase in total cell numbers, and a remarkable alteration in cell morphology. These results reveal a newly created system with great potential to provide an efficient route for the development of multifunctional bioactive substrates with unique electro-responsiveness to manipulate cell growth and functions.

Fabrication and characterization of PHEMA–gelatin scaffold enriched with graphene oxide for bone tissue engineering

Background

Growing investigations demonstrate that graphene oxide (GO) has an undeniable impact on repairing damaged bone tissue. Moreover, it has been stated in the literatures that poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and gelatin could provide a biocompatible structure.

Methods

In this research, we fabricated a scaffold using freeze-drying method comprised of PHEMA and gelatin, combined with GO. The validation of the successful fabrication of the scaffolds was performed utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction assay (XRD). The microstructure of the scaffolds was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The structural properties of the scaffolds including mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, electrical conductivity, and degradation rate were also evaluated. Human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the prepared scaffolds. The osteogenic potential of the GO-containing scaffolds was studied by measuring the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity after 7, 14, and 21 days cell culturing.

Results

SEM assay showed a porous interconnected scaffold with approximate pore size of 50–300 μm, appropriate for bone regeneration. The increase in GO concentration from 0.25 to 0.75% w/v exhibited a significant improvement in scaffolds compressive modulus from 9.03 ± 0.36 to 42.82 ± 1.63 MPa. Conventional four-probe analysis confirmed the electrical conductivity of the scaffolds in the semiconductor range. The degradation rate of the samples appeared to be in compliance with bone healing process. The scaffolds exhibited no cytotoxicity using MTT assay against hBM-MSCs. ALP analysis indicated that the PHEMA–Gel–GO scaffolds could efficiently cause the differentiation of hBM-MSCs into osteoblasts after 21 days, even without the addition of the osteogenic differentiation medium.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this research, it can be stated that the PHEMA–Gel–GO composition is a promising platform for bone tissue engineering.

Advanced Materials and Sensors for Microphysiological Systems: Focus on Electronic and Electrooptical Interfaces

Advanced in vitro cell culture systems or microphysiological systems (MPSs), including microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (OoC), are breakthrough technologies in biomedicine. These systems recapitulate features of human tissues outside of the body. They are increasingly being used to study the functionality of different organs for applications such as drug evolutions, disease modeling, and precision medicine. Currently, developers and endpoint users of these in vitro models promote how they can replace animal models or even be a better ethically neutral and humanized alternative to study pathology, physiology, and pharmacology. Although reported models show a remarkable physiological structure and function compared to the conventional 2D cell culture, they are almost exclusively based on standard passive polymers or glass with none or minimal real-time stimuli and readout capacity. The next technology leap in reproducing in vivo-like functionality and real-time monitoring of tissue function could be realized with advanced functional materials and devices. This review describes the currently reported electronic and optical advanced materials for sensing and stimulation of MPS models. In addition, an overview of multi-sensing for Body-on-Chip platforms is given. Finally, one gives the perspective on how advanced functional materials could be integrated into in vitro systems to precisely mimic human physiology.

The electrochemical potential is a key parameter for cell adhesion and proliferation on carbon surface

The Nernst potential of the support/cell interface is suspected to play a key role in cell adhesion and proliferation. However, the studies that have addressed this topic have generally varied the electrochemical potential of the interface by comparing different materials or by varying the chemical composition of the surface coating. It is consequently hard to definitively separate the actual effect of the potential from possible side-effects due to differences in the surface composition or topography. Here, a 3-electrode set-up was used to apply different values of potential to identical carbon electrodes. Potentials were applied in the range -200 to 400 mV vs. silver pseudo-reference (SPR), i.e. 90 to 690 mV/SHE, to screen-printed carbon electrodes used to grow Vero or Raw 264.7 cell lines. Values up to 200 mV/SPR prohibited cell adhesion and even caused detachment of cells that were previously adhered. The value of 400 mV/DRP allowed cell adhesion and proliferation, leading to confluent and sometimes very compact mats. The zero charge potential, measured around 200 mV/DRP, showed that the drastic effect of the applied potential was probably due to the negative/positive switch of the surface charge.

Piezoelectric Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds for Bone, Articular Cartilage and Osteochondral Tissue Engineering

Osteochondral tissue (OCT) related diseases, particularly osteoarthritis, number among the most prevalent in the adult population worldwide. However, no satisfactory clinical treatments have been developed to date to resolve this unmet medical issue. Osteochondral tissue engineering (OCTE) strategies involving the fabrication of OCT-mimicking scaffold structures capable of replacing damaged tissue and promoting its regeneration are currently under development. While the piezoelectric properties of the OCT have been extensively reported in different studies, they keep being neglected in the design of novel OCT scaffolds, which focus primarily on the tissue's structural and mechanical properties. Given the promising potential of piezoelectric electrospun scaffolds capable of both recapitulating the piezoelectric nature of the tissue's fibrous ECM and of providing a platform for electrical and mechanical stimulation to promote the regeneration of damaged OCT, the present review aims to examine the current state of the art of these electroactive smart scaffolds in OCTE strategies. A summary of the piezoelectric properties of the different regions of the OCT and an overview of the main piezoelectric biomaterials applied in OCTE applications are presented. Some recent examples of piezoelectric electrospun scaffolds developed for potentially replacing damaged OCT as well as for the bone or articular cartilage segments of this interfacial tissue are summarized. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives concerning the use of piezoelectric electrospun scaffolds in OCT regeneration are discussed.

Electrochemically Deposited Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Sensors

This review is dedicated to the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and the application of MIPs in sensor design. MIP-based biological recognition parts can replace receptors or antibodies, which are rather expensive. Conducting polymers show unique properties that are applicable in sensor design. Therefore, MIP-based conducting polymers, including polypyrrole, polythiophene, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polyaniline and ortho-phenylenediamine are frequently applied in sensor design. Some other materials that can be molecularly imprinted are also overviewed in this review. Among many imprintable materials conducting polymer, polypyrrole is one of the most suitable for molecular imprinting of various targets ranging from small organics up to rather large proteins. Some attention in this review is dedicated to overview methods applied to design MIP-based sensing structures. Some attention is dedicated to the physicochemical methods applied for the transduction of analytical signals. Expected new trends and horizons in the application of MIP-based structures are also discussed.

Effects of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials on regulating cardiomyocyte behavior for cardiac repair and regeneration

Myocardial infarction (MI) represents one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases, with a highly relevant and impactful role in public health. Despite the therapeutic advances of the last decades, MI still begets extensive death rates around the world. The pathophysiology of the disease correlates with cardiomyocyte necrosis, caused by an imbalance in the demand of oxygen to cardiac tissues, resulting from obstruction of the coronary flow. To alleviate the severe effects of MI, the use of various biomaterials exhibit vast potential in cardiac repair and regeneration, acting as native extracellular matrices. These hydrogels have been combined with nano sized or functional materials which possess unique electrical, mechanical, and topographical properties that play important roles in regulating phenotypes and the contractile function of cardiomyocytes even in adverse microenvironments. These nano-biomaterials' differential properties have led to substantial healing on in vivo cardiac injury models by promoting fibrotic scar reduction, hemodynamic function preservation, and benign cardiac remodeling. In this review, we discuss the interplay of the unique physical properties of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials, are able to manipulate the phenotypes and the electrophysiological behavior of cardiomyocytes in vitro, and can enhance heart regeneration in vivo. Consequently, the understanding of the decisive roles of the nano-biomaterials discussed in this review could be useful for designing novel nano-biomaterials in future research for cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This study introduced and deciphered the understanding of the role of multimodal cues in recent advances of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials on cardiac tissue engineering. Compared with other review papers, which mainly describe these studies based on various types of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials, in this review paper we mainly discussed the interplay of the unique physical properties (electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and topography) of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials, which would allow them to manipulate phenotypes and the electrophysiological behavior of cardiomyocytes in vitro and to enhance heart regeneration in vivo. Consequently, understanding the decisive roles of the nano-biomaterials discussed in the review could help design novel nano-biomaterials in future research for cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration.

Effects of Electroactive materials on nerve cell behaviors and applications in peripheral nerve repair

Peripheral nerve damage can lead to loss of function or even complete disability, which bring about a huge burden on both the patient and society. Regulating nerve cell behavior and...

Antibacterial Ferroelectric Hybrid Membranes Fabricated via Electrospinning for Wound Healing

In the present study, wound healing ferroelectric membranes doped with zinc oxide nanoparticles were fabricated from vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone using the electrospinning technique. Five different ratios of vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene to polyvinylpyrrolidone were used to control the properties of the membranes at a constant zinc oxide nanoparticle content. It was found that an increase of polyvinylpyrrolidone content leads to a decrease of the spinning solution conductivity and viscosity, causing a decrease of the average fiber diameter and reducing their strength and elongation. By means of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, it was revealed that increased polyvinylpyrrolidone content leads to difficulty in crystallization of the vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer in the ferroelectric β-phase in membranes. Changing the ratio of vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone with a constant content of zinc oxide nanoparticles is an effective approach to control the antibacterial properties of membranes towards Staphylococcus aureus. After carrying out in vivo experiments, we found that ferroelectric hybrid membranes, containing from five to ten mass percent of PVP, have the greatest wound-healing effect for the healing of purulent wounds.