Sensorized Engineered Tissues with Built-in Thermoregulation and Nutrient Supply

Engineered tissues are widely used to replicate and restore biological structures; however, their functionality critically depends on high cell survival. Survival 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 an engineered tissue construct with integrated thermoregulation and nutrient delivery. The construct is based on granular hydrogels that feature a percolating pore network, making them suitable for cell infiltration. Local functionalization with the conductive polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) imparts electronic conductivity, while Zn²⁺ ions enhance ionic conductivity. These additives enable Joule heating which provides control over the substrate temperature. Continuous passive nutrient delivery is provided by functionalizing the substrate with cell media-loaded polyelectrolyte microgels. 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.