Ordered conductive bacterial cellulose/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) composite hydrogel for promoting cell alignment in tissue regeneration

Electroactive materials that promote oriented cell growth are of significant importance in the repair of tissue injuries, including those affecting the heart, nerves, and other organs. This study employed a simplified mechanical stretching method to prepare stretched bacterial cellulose (SBC) with varying degrees of orientation from bacterial cellulose hydrogels (BC). Anisotropically ordered conductive hydrogels (SBC/PEDOT) were then developed by coating the fibers with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) via an in situ polymerization reaction. Characterization results showed a significant enhancement in fiber alignment and electrical conductivity, with a hemolysis rate of 0.29 ± 0.05 % and a cell survival rate of 99.76 %, indicating excellent biocompatibility. Cell fluorescence staining further revealed that cell orientation in SBC/PEDOT increased by up to 66.5 % compared to pure SBC, suggesting that the combination of anisotropic fibers and PEDOT facilitated improved cellular alignment. This hydrogel holds great promise for myocardial injury repair applications, particularly in vitro, by mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the microelectrical environment of tissues in a patch-like format.