The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Neural tissues function through electrical signal transmission between cells; therefore, it is important to incorporate such properties into neural cell culture platforms. By simply incorporating conductive fillers into the GelMA precursor solution and applying photoinitiated crosslinking, this system enables in situ gelation with potential for injectable applications. In this study, GelMA/PANI and GelMA/PEDOT:PSS hydrogels were fabricated, and neuronal differentiation behavior was comparatively evaluated using SH-SY5Y cells. As a result, pronounced neurite outgrowth and neural network formation were observed on the GelMA/PEDOT:PSS hydrogel. These findings demonstrate that the GelMA/PEDOT:PSS hydrogel represents a promising platform for neural tissue engineering.  Given that cutaneous nerves play a critical role in skin homeostasis and wound healing, this conductive hydrogel system may also offer potential applications in cosmetic and dermatological research.