ABSTRACT
Tissue engineering principle is to reconstruct, maintain, and improve the tissues or organ functions with a suitable natural, synthetic, and conducting polymer (CP) scaffold with cells and signaling molecules. CPs with a network of free electrons and π-conjugated backbones show electrical conductivity when given charges by redox reactions. Electrically CPs viz., polythiophene (PT), polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), and their derivatives are commonly used for the fabrication of biosensors, tissue engineering constructs, and drug delivery. They offer more positive and affirmative attributes such as facile synthesis, stretchable, noncorrosive, tunable conductivity, biocompatibility, and effortless modification. The conductive environment offered by the CPs facilitates cell proliferation and cell attachment through the generated electrical signals. The common forms of CP-based biomaterials are aerogels, hydrogels, scaffolds, and composite films. The blending of CPs with natural or synthetic polymers by suitable fabrication techniques can improve their properties for extended applications. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of CPs used in various tissue engineering applications like skin, bone, nerve, and cardiac tissue regeneration.
