Novel implantable devices delivering electrical cues for tissue regeneration and functional restoration

Abstract

Millions of people suffer from tissue diseases and organ dysfunction, such as bone or nerve defects, spinal cord injuries and arrhythmia, which often leads to morbidity and disability. Electrical stimulation as a promising nonpharmacological technique has been proven to be effective in promoting tissue regeneration and functional restoration. Nevertheless, existing clinical electrical therapies are often limited to intraoperative window or percutaneous stimulation that suffer from insufficient time frame and potential infection risks. To overcome these challenges, innovative electrical stimulation implants with miniaturized, self-powered, flexible or biodegradable features have been proposed. This review summarizes recent advances of novel materials strategies and device schemes for tissue regeneration and/or functional restoration of bones, nerves, gastrointestinal tracts, cardiac systems, etc. Insights on future directions of electrical stimulation devices are given at the end.