Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
08:32
External Excitation of Neurons Using Electric and Magnetic Fields in One- and Two-dimensional Cultures
Published on: May 7, 2017
13.3K
Electroceuticals: emerging applications beyond the nervous system and excitable tissues
Swarnalatha Balasubramanian1, David A Weston2, Michael Levin3
1Emerging Innovations Unit, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|April 19, 2024
Summary
Electroceuticals are advancing beyond nerve stimulation for symptom relief. These innovative devices offer precise, disease-modulating treatments with potential applications in arthritis, cancer, and tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Electroceuticals traditionally focused on modulating neuronal signaling for symptomatic relief.
- Recent advancements have expanded their scope beyond the nervous system.
- The field is evolving towards precise, disease-modulating therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in electroceutical technology.
- To highlight the expansion of electroceuticals beyond the nervous system.
- To discuss future research directions and potential applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent developments in electroceutical research.
- Analysis of emerging electroceutical applications in various disease models.
- Synthesis of current trends and future prospects in the field.
Main Results:
- Electroceuticals are now capable of precise disease modulation, not just symptomatic treatment.
- Applications are expanding beyond the nervous system into areas like oncology and orthopedics.
- Significant progress has been made in tissue regeneration using electroceutical approaches.
Conclusions:
- Electroceuticals represent a rapidly advancing field with transformative potential.
- Future research should focus on translating these precise, disease-modulating capabilities into clinical practice.
- The expansion beyond the nervous system opens new therapeutic avenues for complex diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
01:21Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
01:29Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Drugs affecting neurotransmitter synthesis can impact the adrenergic neuron and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For example, α-methyltyrosine and carbidopa target specific enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis. α-methyltyrosine inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into dopamine. By blocking this enzyme, α-methyltyrosine reduces dopamine production and other catecholamines. Carbidopa, on the other hand, inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase, which converts...
01:22CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents
Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
01:28An Overview of Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive drugs impact brain function, influencing perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior. These substances are grouped based on their effects and the mechanisms by which they act.
Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine enhance brain activity, leading to increased alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs typically raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. While they can induce feelings of euphoria, their misuse can result in severe health...
Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine enhance brain activity, leading to increased alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs typically raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. While they can induce feelings of euphoria, their misuse can result in severe health...