Multicomponent Peptide-MXene-Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel as a Conductive Scaffold for Enhanced Fibroblast Proliferation and Migration Under Electrical Stimulation
Abstract
Chronic and acute skin wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to impaired angiogenesis, persistent inflammation, reduced cell proliferation and migration, and a high risk of infection. These pathological conditions highlight the need for advanced biomaterial platforms capable of actively modulating cell behavior through biochemical, mechanical, and electrical cues relevant to the skin microenvironment. In this study, a multicomponent electrically conductive hydrogel scaffold composed of the self-assembling dipeptide Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl diphenylalanine (FmocFF), Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets, and hyaluronic acid (HA) is presented. The FmocFF/MXene/HA hydrogel integrates structural, electrical, and biochemical functionalities together with a self-healing capability within a single platform, providing an extracellular matrix-like fibrous architecture, stable electrical conductivity for controlled stimulation, and HA-mediated bioactivity to support cellular responses. The MXene nanosheets enhanced the mechanical stiffness of the hydrogel, and formed percolated conductive pathways, while the peptide matrix protected MXene from oxidation. In vitro studies confirmed excellent cytocompatibility and cell attachment. Importantly, electrical stimulation at physiologically relevant voltages, consistent with the endogenous transepithelial potential of the skin, significantly enhanced fibroblast proliferation and accelerated migration across cell-free regions, demonstrating the…
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