journal article·2026-05Open access

Sensorized Engineered Tissues with Built‐in Thermoregulation and Nutrient Supply

Antonia Georgopoulou, Jakob Schreiner, Miriam Filippi, Aiste Balciunaite, Robert K. Katzschmann, Esther Amstad

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 36· Issue 38

Abstract

ABSTRACT Engineered tissues are widely used to replicate and restore biological structures; however, their functionality critically depends on high cell survival. Cell viability is often compromised when tissues are handled or stored outside controlled environments due to temperature fluctuations and nutrient depletion. While incubators can mitigate these limitations, maintaining stable conditions during handling and transport remains challenging. To address this challenge, we introduce a hydrogel‐based tissue engineering scaffold with integrated thermoregulation and nutrient delivery. The scaffold is based on granular hydrogels whose interstitial spaces are functionalized with the conductive polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), which imparts electronic conductivity, while Zn 2 + ions enhance ionic conductivity. These additives enable Joule heating, providing control over the substrate temperature. Continuous passive nutrient delivery is achieved by functionalizing the substrate with cell media–loaded polyelectrolyte microfragments. This hydrogel‐based platform sustains homeostatic conditions without the need for external incubators, improving cell viability and resilience, which is key, for example, for point‐of‐care testing and personalized medicine.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications · 3D Printing in Biomedical Research · Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Cyborg Robotics and Intelligent Sensing (CyRIS) Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Stuttgart Germany

Soft Materials Laboratory EPFL Lausanne Switzerland

Soft Robotics Laboratory ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland

Institute For Factory Automation and Production Systems FAU Erlangen‐Nürnberg Erlangen Germany

Funding

Novartis · European Cooperation in Science and Technology · National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, University of Fribourg · Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

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