Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2015
Cold-Induced Pyroelectric Stimulation Enhances Implant Osteointegration via TRPM8 Activation
Kai Li1,2, Zishan Xu1, Xiaojia Liu1
1Department of Biomaterials/Periodontology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Research Center of Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Jinan, China.
None:
Electrical signals serve as important modulators in bone regeneration, yet recreating this self-sustaining bioelectrical microenvironment at the peri-implant interface remains challenging. In this study, we engineered pyroelectric nanostructure coatings on titanium (Ti) implants to enhance implant osteointegration through temperature fluctuation-driven electrical stimulation. The pyroelectric titanium (pyroTi) implants leverage the combined effects of the pyroelectric effect and cold stimulation to amplify calcium ion (Ca2+) influx by activating cold-sensitive transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) ion channel, therefore driving osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). As a demonstration, pyroTi used as a dental implant in the rabbit maxilla showed enhanced osteointegration under routine cold-water intake. This study establishes a proof of concept for pyroelectric biomaterials that harness physiological temperature variations to potentiate bone-implant integration.
Related Concept Videos
Thermosensation
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

