Nanomaterial-Enhanced Conductive Hydrogels for Peripheral Nerve Repair: Biomimetic Design, Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges

Peripheral nerve injuries often lead to permanent functional deficits, and current surgical or grafting techniques offer only partial recovery. Conductive hydrogels have recently emerged as a versatile platform that integrates tissue-like softness with electrical conductivity to actively promote nerve regeneration. By providing both mechanical support and electroactive cues, these materials enhance axonal extension, Schwann cell function, and neuroimmune modulation. Advances in hydrogel design-such as self-healing networks, injectability, and controlled release-further expand their therapeutic potential. Incorporating conductive polymers, nanomaterials, or ion-based systems enables precise tuning of conductivity and biological interactions. Preclinical studies demonstrate accelerated nerve repair and functional restoration, highlighting conductive hydrogels as a promising interface between biology and bioelectronics. Nonetheless, critical challenges remain, including long-term biocompatibility, controlled degradation, and scalable manufacturing for clinical translation. This review summarizes current design strategies, mechanisms, critically identifies evidence-based design principles most relevant for near-term clinical translation, while distinguishing speculative bioelectronic concepts from validated strategies.