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In the first example of bioelectronic medicine, a biodegradable wireless device was implanted in a rat to accelerate the regeneration of the nerves.
Materials scientists and engineers from Northwestern University, Illinois, and neurosurgeons at Washington University have come up with the device that provides regular electrical impulses to the damaged peripheral nerves of rats following a process of surgical repair. This, they say, speeds up the regrowth of the nerves in the legs and improves the ultimate recovery of muscle strength and control. The wireless device, which is the size of a small coin and a paper thickness, works for about two weeks before being absorbed by the body.
Such transient technology, described in Medicine of nature, The team plans to supplement or possibly replace pharmaceutical treatments to treat diseases in humans.
In addition, bioelectronic medicine would offer therapy and treatment over a clinically relevant time period and directly to the site where it is needed, reducing the side effects or risks associated with conventional permanent implants.
"These technical systems offer active therapeutic function in a programmable dosage format, and then naturally disappear into the body without leaving a trace," said John A Rogers, North West, co-lead author of the study. "This therapeutic approach allows us to think about options that go beyond drugs and chemistry."
According to Northwestern, the results – which have not yet been tested in humans – are promising as a future therapeutic option for patients with nerve damage. For cases requiring surgery, the usual practice is to administer electrical stimulation during the operation to facilitate recovery. Until now, however, doctors have not had the means to continuously provide this extra momentum at different points in the healing and healing process.
"We know that electrical stimulation during the operation is helpful, but once the operation is complete, the intervention window is closed," said co-lead author Dr. Wilson & # 39; 39; Zack & # 39; Ray, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Biomedical Engineering and Orthopedic Surgery in Washington. University. "With this device we have shown that programmed electrical stimulation can further improve nerve recovery."
This technology is a thin and flexible device that envelops an injured nerve and delivers electrical impulses at specific times for days before the device breaks down in the body. The device is powered and controlled wirelessly by a transmitter located outside the body.
Bioelectronic medicine
Researchers at the University of Washington studied the bioelectronic device in rats with injured sciatic nerves. This nerve sends signals up and down the legs and controls the hamstrings and muscles of the lower legs and feet. They would have used the device to provide one hour a day of electrical stimulation to rats for one, three, or six days, or even no electrical stimulation, and then monitored their recovery for the next 10 weeks.
They found that any electrical stimulation was better than ever to help rats regain muscle mass and muscle strength. In addition, the longer the rats received days of electrical stimulation, the faster and more quickly they recovered nerve signals and muscle strength. No adverse biological effects of the device and its reabsorption have been found.
"Before doing this study, we were not sure that longer stimulation would make a difference. Now that we know it, we can start trying to find the ideal amount of time to maximize recovery, "Ray said. "If we had given electrical stimulation for 12 days instead of six, would there have been more therapeutic benefits? May be. We are looking at this now. "
The research study also showed that the device could function as a temporary pacemaker and as an interface with the spinal cord and other body stimulation sites.
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