Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Soft-tissue injuries affecting muscles, nerves, vasculature, tendons, and ligaments often diminish the quality of life due to pain, loss of function, and financial burdens. Both natural healing and surgical interventions can result in scarring, which potentially may impede functional recovery and lead to persistent pain. Scar tissue, characterized by a highly disorganized fibrotic extracellular matrix, may serve as a physical barrier to regeneration and drug delivery. While approaches such as drugs, biomaterials, cells, external stimulation, and other physical forces show promise in mitigating scarring and promoting regenerative healing, their implementation remains limited and challenging. Ultrasound, laser, electrical, and magnetic forms of external stimulation have been utilized to promote soft tissue as well as neural tissue regeneration. After stimulation, neural tissues experience increased proliferation of Schwann cells, secretion of neurotropic factors, production of myelin, and growth of vasculature, all aimed at supporting axon regeneration and innervation. Yet, the outcomes of healing vary depending on the pathophysiology of the damaged nerve, the timing of stimulation following injury, and the specific parameters of stimulation employed. Increased treatment intensity and duration have been noted to hinder the healing process by inducing tissue damage. These stimulation modalities, either alone or in combination with nerve guidance conduits and scaffolds, have been demonstrated to promote healing. However, the literature currently lacks a detailed understanding of the stimulation parameters used for nerve healing applications. In this article, we aim to address this gap by summarizing existing reports and providing an overview of stimulation parameters alongside their associated healing outcomes.
Source: Biomedical Materials
Authors: Rosalie Bordett, Khadija B Danazumi, Suranji Wijekoon, Christopher J Garcia, Sama Abdulmalik, Sangamesh G Kumbar
Institutions: UConn Health, University of Connecticut
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Army, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
Awards: Biodegradable Matrices with Structural and Physical Cues for Interface Engineering, Biodegradable Matrices for Bone Healing, G3458581170, Ionically Conductive Polymeric Biomaterials and Grafts for Nerve Regeneration, G5263778377, Engineering Composite Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Repairing Segmental Bone Defect, Bioactive Nerve Grafts for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Engineered Matrices with Electrical and Chemical Stimulation for Peripheral Nerve Repair, G8316532672, Targeting PHLPP to treat interval disc degeneration using surgical and drug delivery methods, Polysaccharide putty formulations for tissue regeneration
OpenAlex ID: W4400763341