Review of Piezoelectrical Materials Potentially Useful for Peripheral Nerve Repair

Abstract

It has increasingly been recognized that electrical currents play a pivotal role in cell migration and tissue repair, in a process named “galvanotaxis”. In this review, we summarize the current evidence supporting the potential benefits of electric stimulation (ES) in the physiology of peripheral nerve repair (PNR). Moreover, we discuss the potential of piezoelectric materials in this context. The use of these materials has deserved great attention, as the movement of the body or of the external environment can be used to power internally the electrical properties of devices used for providing ES or acting as sensory receptors in artificial skin (e-skin). The fact that organic materials sustain spontaneous degradation inside the body means their piezoelectric effect is limited in duration. In the case of PNR, this is not necessarily problematic, as ES is only required during the regeneration period. Arguably, piezoelectric materials have the potential to revolutionize PNR with new biomedical devices that range from scaffolds and nerve-guiding conduits to sensory or efferent components of e-skin. However, much remains to be learned regarding piezoelectric materials, their use in manufacturing of biomedical devices, and their sterilization process, to fine-tune their safe, effective, and predictable in vivo application.

Piezoelectric dressings for advanced wound healing

“…Natural piezoelectric materials are the most superior in terms of biocompatibility, biosafety, and biodegradability, but they usually possess poor piezoelectric properties and chemical stability. 207,208 Therefore, researchers are trying to optimize or enhance the piezoelectric properties of biomedical piezoelectric materials by compositing the above materials. Currently, there are two main applications of piezoelectric materials.…”

Electrospun drug‐loaded scaffolds for nervous system repair

“…Biomaterials electrospun from piezoelectric polymers (such as PVDF) have the unique ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical signals, mimicking the physiological environment of native neural tissue. Their electroactive nature enables precise control over electrical stimulation, facilitating neural growth and regeneration, which are particularly helpful in peripheral nerve injuries (Casal et al, 2023;H. Zhang et al, 2023).…”