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Casal D, Casimiro MH, Ferreira LM, Leal JP, Rodrigues G, Lopes R, Moura DL, Gonçalves L, Lago JB, Pais D, Santos PMP. Review of Piezoelectrical Materials Potentially Useful for Peripheral Nerve Repair. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3195. [PMID: 38137416 PMCID: PMC10740581 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
It has increasingly been recognized that electrical currents play a pivotal role in cell migration and tissue repair, in a process named "galvanotaxis". In this review, we summarize the current evidence supporting the potential benefits of electric stimulation (ES) in the physiology of peripheral nerve repair (PNR). Moreover, we discuss the potential of piezoelectric materials in this context. The use of these materials has deserved great attention, as the movement of the body or of the external environment can be used to power internally the electrical properties of devices used for providing ES or acting as sensory receptors in artificial skin (e-skin). The fact that organic materials sustain spontaneous degradation inside the body means their piezoelectric effect is limited in duration. In the case of PNR, this is not necessarily problematic, as ES is only required during the regeneration period. Arguably, piezoelectric materials have the potential to revolutionize PNR with new biomedical devices that range from scaffolds and nerve-guiding conduits to sensory or efferent components of e-skin. However, much remains to be learned regarding piezoelectric materials, their use in manufacturing of biomedical devices, and their sterilization process, to fine-tune their safe, effective, and predictable in vivo application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Casal
- Departamento de Anatomia, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; (L.G.); (D.P.)
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Rua José António Serrano, 1169-045 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Helena Casimiro
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (M.H.C.); (P.M.P.S.)
| | - Luís M. Ferreira
- Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares (DECN), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal;
| | - João Paulo Leal
- Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal;
| | - Gabriela Rodrigues
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c) & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Raquel Lopes
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department, Maternidade Alfredo da Costa, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, R. Viriato 1, 2890-495 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Diogo Lino Moura
- Anatomy Institute and Orthopedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Spine Unit, Orthopedics Department, Coimbra University Hospital, 3000-602 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Gonçalves
- Departamento de Anatomia, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; (L.G.); (D.P.)
| | - João B. Lago
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Diogo Pais
- Departamento de Anatomia, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; (L.G.); (D.P.)
| | - Pedro M. P. Santos
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal; (M.H.C.); (P.M.P.S.)
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