Reduce electrical overload via threaded Chinese acupuncture in nerve electrical therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Bioelectrical stimulation promotes tissue regeneration but faces challenges like "electrical overload".
• Existing methods lack targeted delivery to mitigate core region damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a threaded microneedle electrode system for controlled delivery of therapeutic microspheres.
• To prevent "electrical overload" and enhance tissue regeneration, particularly in peripheral nerve injury models.

Main Methods:

• A threaded microneedle electrode coated with polydopamine and chitosan was designed.
• Hydrogel microspheres loaded with vitamins B12 and E were developed for stereoscopic release.
• The system was tested in a peripheral nerve injury model to assess antioxidant effects and neuroregeneration.

Main Results:

• The system successfully delivered microspheres, mitigating electrical damage via swelling and shear-thinning effects.
• Microsphere release reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 72.8% and cell death by 59.5%.
• In peripheral nerve injury models, the system improved antioxidant capacity by 78.5%, nerve conduction velocity by 41.9%, and sciatic nerve function index by 12.1%.

Conclusions:

• The threaded microneedle electrode system effectively prevents "electrical overload" during bioelectrical stimulation.
• This technology shows significant potential for enhancing neuroregeneration and improving outcomes in nerve repair.