abstract
Nerve injuries pose a drastic threat to nerve mobility and sensitivity and lead to permanent dysfunction due to low regenerative capacity of mature neurons. The electrical stimuli that can be provided by electroactive materials are some of the most effective tools for the formation of soft tissues, including nerves. Electric output can provide a distinctly favorable bioelectrical microenvironment, which is especially relevant for the nervous system. Piezoelectric biomaterials have attracted attention in the field of neural tissue engineering owing to their biocompatibility and ability to generate piezoelectric surface charges. In this review, an outlook of the most recent achievements in the field of piezoelectric biomaterials is described with an emphasis on piezoelectric polymers for neural tissue engineering. First, general recommendations for the design of an optimal nerve scaffold are discussed. Then, specific mechanisms determining nerve regeneration via piezoelectric stimulation are considered. Activation of piezoelectric responses via natural body movements, ultrasound, and magnetic fillers is also examined. The use of magnetoelectric materials in combination with alternating magnetic fields is thought to be the most promising due to controllable reproducible cyclic deformations and deep tissue permeation by magnetic fields without tissue heating. In vitro and in vivo applications of nerve guidance scaffolds and conduits made of various piezopolymers are reviewed too. Finally, challenges and prospective research directions regarding piezoelectric biomaterials promoting nerve regeneration are discussed. Thus, the most relevant scientific findings and strategies in neural tissue engineering are described here, and this review may serve as a guideline both for researchers and clinicians.
keywords
ALIGNED ELECTROSPUN FIBERS; PERIPHERAL-NERVE; STEM-CELLS; ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION; SCIATIC-NERVE; SCHWANN-CELLS; IN-VIVO; POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE; NEURAL DIFFERENTIATION; SURFACE MODIFICATION
subject category
Engineering; Materials Science
authors
Shlapakova, LE; Surmeneva, MA; Kholkin, AL; Surmenev, RA
our authors
Andrei Kholkin
Retired Researcheracknowledgements
The research was carried out at National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University. The support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (grant agreement #075-15-2021-588 of June 1, 2021) and from the Russian Science Foundation [#22-13-20043 (the part dealing with piezoelectric-effect of PLLA) ] is acknowledged. A part of this work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and, when appropriate, co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. The English language was corrected and certified by shevchuk-editing.com .r Education (grant agreement #075-15-2021-588 of June 1, 2021) and from the Russian Science Foundation [#22-13-20043 (the part dealing with piezoelectric-effect of PLLA) ] is acknowledged. A part of this work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and, when appropriate, co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. The En-glish language was corrected and certified by shevchuk-editing.com .