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Wireless bioresorbable electronic system enables sustained nonpharmacological neuroregenerative therapy
- Source :
- Nature Medicine; December 2018, Vol. 24 Issue: 12 p1830-1836, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Peripheral nerve injuries represent a significant problem in public health, constituting 2–5% of all trauma cases1. For severe nerve injuries, even advanced forms of clinical intervention often lead to incomplete and unsatisfactory motor and/or sensory function2. Numerous studies report the potential of pharmacological approaches (for example, growth factors, immunosuppressants) to accelerate and enhance nerve regeneration in rodent models3–10. Unfortunately, few have had a positive impact in clinical practice. Direct intraoperative electrical stimulation of injured nerve tissue proximal to the site of repair has been demonstrated to enhance and accelerate functional recovery11,12, suggesting a novel nonpharmacological, bioelectric form of therapy that could complement existing surgical approaches. A significant limitation of this technique is that existing protocols are constrained to intraoperative use and limited therapeutic benefits13. Herein we introduce (i) a platform for wireless, programmable electrical peripheral nerve stimulation, built with a collection of circuit elements and substrates that are entirely bioresorbable and biocompatible, and (ii) the first reported demonstration of enhanced neuroregeneration and functional recovery in rodent models as a result of multiple episodes of electrical stimulation of injured nervous tissue.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10788956 and 1546170X
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Nature Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs47416556
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0196-2