Sensorized Engineered Tissues with Built-in Thermoregulation and Nutrient Supply
Georgopoulou A, Schreiner J, Filippi M, Balciunaite A, Katzschmann RK, Amstad E (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
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 Zn2+ 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.
Involved external institutions
Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme / Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS)
Germany (DE)
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
Switzerland (CH)
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Switzerland (CH)
Germany (DE)
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
Switzerland (CH)
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Switzerland (CH)
How to cite
APA:
Georgopoulou, A., Schreiner, J., Filippi, M., Balciunaite, A., Katzschmann, R.K., & Amstad, E. (2026). Sensorized Engineered Tissues with Built-in Thermoregulation and Nutrient Supply. Advanced Functional Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202530747
MLA:
Georgopoulou, Antonia, et al. "Sensorized Engineered Tissues with Built-in Thermoregulation and Nutrient Supply." Advanced Functional Materials (2026).
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