Wrap the tendon with piezoelectric
The Irish have developed a piezoelectric implant for the treatment of tendon ruptures
Anastasia Kuznetsova-Fantoni N+1
Irish engineers have created an implant made of piezoelectric nanofibers, which improves the regeneration of tendons after their damage. In rats with a ruptured Achilles tendon, which had a piezoelectric implant installed, scientists observed increased synthesis of type I/III collagen.
The article is published in Advanced Materials (Fernandez-Yague et al., A Self-Powered Piezo-Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair-Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels).
Tendon injuries are usually treated surgically: doctors stitch the rupture site, but this does not always mean that after healing, the tendon will fully restore its function. Scar tissue may form at the site of the rupture and interfere with the movements of the limbs, so doctors are trying to figure out how to exclude the formation of scars. A similar task is faced by doctors in the treatment of fractures, when it is necessary to ensure the correct and rapid growth of bone tissue. We have already talked about the method of electrical stimulation, which scientists used to accelerate the healing of fractures. An electric field of sufficient strength promotes cell proliferation and stimulates tissue regeneration. In this case, the electric field can affect not only the bones, but also other types of connective tissue (ligaments, tendons).
Irish scientists led by Manus J. Biggs from the Irish National University decided to use an electric field to heal tendons. They designed an implant consisting of piezoelectric nanofibers. During movements, an electric charge is generated in them, which stimulates tissue regeneration.
Figure from the press release of the National University of Ireland, Galway NUI Galway CÚRAM researchers discover a way to switch on and speed up tendon healing – VM.
The researchers tested piezoelectric fibers on rats with Achilles tendon injury. The ends of the tendons were sewn to the animals, and then piezoelectric fibers were implanted into the rupture site in one group of rats, and an implant that did not have the properties of a piezoelectric was placed on the other. Two weeks after the injury, rodents were placed on a treadmill to make them move, and piezoelectric fibers generate an electric charge.
Eight weeks after the injury, collagen production was measured in the animals' tendons. In rats with a piezoelectric implant in the tendons, the synthesis of type I/III collagen, the most elastic and durable type, increased. At the same time, type II collagen, characteristic of joints, was produced in them in much smaller quantities than in rats with an implant that does not have piezoelectric properties (p<0.05). These results suggest that electrical stimulation provides more correct regeneration of tendon tissue.
In the future, researchers will have to improve piezoelectric implants, but their work has shown that this method of treatment has great potential.
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