Ahn Hak-Young, Walters Jordan B, Avila Raudel, Oh Seyong, Seo Seung Gi, Kim Jong Uk, Park Jihun, Yoo Seonggwang, Choi Yeon Sik, Kim Tae Yeon, Liu Jiaqi, Yoo Jae-Young, Weissleder Oliver Ralph, D'Andrea Dominic, Park Chanho, Lee Geumbee, Cho Donghwi, Maeng Woo-Youl, Yoon Hong-Joon, Wickerson Grace, Bouricha Yasmine, Tian Jing, Chung Tzu Chun, Jordan Sumanas W, Li Song, Huang Yonggang, Franz Colin K, Rogers John A
Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
Nat Commun. 2025 May 22;16(1):4752. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59835-7.
Wireless bioresorbable electrical stimulators have broad potential as therapeutic implants. Such devices operate for a clinically relevant duration and then harmlessly dissolve, eliminating the need for surgical removal. A representative application is in treating peripheral nerve injuries through targeted stimulation at either proximal or distal sites, with operation for up to one week. This report introduces enhanced devices with additional capabilities: (1) simultaneous stimulation of both proximal and distal sites, and (2) robust operation for as long as several months, all achieved with materials that naturally resorb by hydrolysis in surrounding biofluids. Systematic investigations of the materials and design aspects highlight the key features that enable dual stimulation and with enhanced stability. Animal model studies illustrate beneficial effects in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration, as quantified by increased total muscle and muscle fiber cross-sectional area and compound muscle action potentials. These findings expand the clinical applications of bioresorbable stimulators, particularly for long-term nerve regeneration and continuous neuromodulation-based monitoring.
无线生物可吸收电刺激器作为治疗性植入物具有广阔的潜力。这类装置能在临床相关的时间段内发挥作用，然后无害地溶解，无需手术取出。一个典型的应用是通过在近端或远端部位进行靶向刺激来治疗周围神经损伤，手术时间长达一周。本报告介绍了具有额外功能的增强型装置：（1）同时刺激近端和远端部位，（2）使用在周围生物流体中通过水解自然吸收的材料实现长达数月的稳定运行。对材料和设计方面的系统研究突出了实现双重刺激和增强稳定性的关键特性。动物模型研究表明，通过增加总肌肉和肌纤维横截面积以及复合肌肉动作电位来量化，在促进周围神经再生方面具有有益效果。这些发现扩展了生物可吸收刺激器的临床应用，特别是在长期神经再生和基于持续神经调节的监测方面。
