PEDOT:PSS-Loaded Gelatin Cryogels for Electrically Controlled Drug Release

Conductive cryogel is a new form of biomaterial that provides additional electrical properties, expanding its applications in biomedical engineering, particularly in tissue regeneration, such as neural and muscle tissues, and in drug-delivery systems. In this study, the gelatin cryogels (GCs) incorporating the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS (PGC) at an optimal ratio (PGC2) could achieve suitable conductivity as an electrically responsive scaffold applied for controlled drug release. The characterization results demonstrated that PGC2 exhibited a well-defined porous structure (90-190 μm), a favorable water uptake capacity (2738.4%), degradability (26.1% degradation after 24 h), and reversible deformability upon compression, demonstrating its suitability for minimally invasive procedures via injection. The electron-transfer capability and higher conductivity of PGC2 were also confirmed by examining the electrochemical properties, which revealed a lower impedance (0.0174 MΩ) compared to nonconductive GC2 (0.0208 MΩ). Additionally, drug release tests revealed that drugs contained in PGC2 as electrically responsive scaffolds had a higher release response to electrical stimulation (ES) (23%) compared to the one without ES (7%). Cytocompatibility assays revealed that NIH-3T3 cells cocultured on PGC2 and those cultured with a PGC2 extraction solution exhibited cell viability above 70%, indicating nontoxicity, as confirmed by a WST-1 assay and a live/dead staining assay. Overall, PGC2 represents a promising biomaterial with injectability, conductivity, and cytocompatibility, offering potential applications in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and bioelectronic scaffolding.