Polypyrrole Conductive Hydrogels: Preparation and Recent Advances in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Hydrogels are a class of materials characterized by high water content, favorable biocompatibility, and an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like structure. Among them, polypyrrole (PPy) conductive hydrogels integrate the physical properties of conventional hydrogels—such as a three-dimensional porous architecture and high water retention—with excellent electrical conductivity. These materials enable the detection of bioelectrical signals generated by biological systems and provide electrical stimulation to modulate cellular and tissue activities and functions, making them widely applicable in the biomedical field. This review summarizes recent advances in PPy conductive hydrogels for biomedical applications. Based on the cross-linking mechanisms between PPy and the hydrogel matrix, PPy conductive hydrogels are categorized into non-covalently cross-linked and covalently cross-linked types. We focus on their applications in skin wound repair, neural regeneration, myocardial repair, and flexible sensing, and discuss current development trends and existing challenges for PPy conductive hydrogels in biomedicine.