title: Nanoreinforced Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering: Biomaterials that are Compatible with Load-Bearing and Electroactive Tissues.
abstract: Given their highly porous nature and excellent water retention, hydrogel-based biomaterials can mimic critical properties of the native cellular environment. However, their potential to emulate the electromechanical milieu of native tissues or conform well with the curved topology of human organs needs to be further explored to address a broad range of physiological demands of the body. In this regard, the incorporation of nanomaterials within hydrogels has shown great promise, as a simple one-step approach, to generate multifunctional scaffolds with previously unattainable biological, mechanical, and electrical properties. Here, recent advances in the fabrication and application of nanocomposite hydrogels in tissue engineering applications are described, with specific attention toward skeletal and electroactive tissues, such as cardiac, nerve, bone, cartilage, and skeletal muscle. Additionally, some potential uses of nanoreinforced hydrogels within the emerging disciplines of cyborganics, bionics, and soft biorobotics are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU Nanotech, Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics, 2800 Kgs, Ørsteds Plads, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrali
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU Nanotech, Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics, 2800 Kgs, Ørsteds Plads, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Stem Cell Research, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 3B, Aalborg, 9220, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian Pablo
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Center of Advanced Material, University of Malaya, 50603, Persiaran Universiti 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sepehr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talebian
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran - Karaj Highway, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ayyoob
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arpanaei
authors.affiliation: Engineering Center G Wing 334 School of Biological Health and Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikkhah
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU Nanotech, Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics, 2800 Kgs, Ørsteds Plads, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolatshahi-Pirouz
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002356:Cartilage; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: bionics; biorobotics; cyborganics; nanocomposite hydrogels; nanomaterials; tissue engineering