Due to the size and complexity of tissues such as the spinal cord and articular cartilage, specialized constructs incorporating cells as well as smart materials may be a promising strategy for achieving functional recovery. Aspects of the present invention describe the use of an electroactive, or piezoelectric, material that will act as a scaffold for stem cell induced tissue repair. Embodiments of the inventive material can also act alone as an electroactive scaffold for repairing tissues. The piezoelectric material of the present invention acts as a highly sensitive mechanoelectrical transducer that will generate charges in response to minute vibrational forces.