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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:28
A Lab-On-A-Chip Platform for Stimulating Osteocyte Mechanotransduction and Analyzing Functional Outcomes of Bone Remodeling
Published on: May 21, 2020
Ultrasonic-driven force-electric nanodomains orchestrate lysosome-to-mitochondria functional cascade to accelerate
Linbo Zhang1,2,3, Pandong Lin4,5, Dandan Wang6
1Department of Stomatology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong Province, 250021, PR China.
Bioactive Materials
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Ultrafine piezoelectric nanoparticles, when internalized by stem cells, generate localized electrical signals upon ultrasound stimulation to enhance bone regeneration. This intracellular approach precisely targets subcellular units, promoting osteogenesis and accelerating bone repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Bone regeneration research leverages piezoelectric materials to mimic bone's electromechanical properties.
- Current strategies primarily focus on extracellular piezoelectric signals, leaving subcellular regulation of osteogenesis unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intracellular force-electric regulation of osteogenesis using ultrafine piezoelectric nanoparticles.
- To explore the potential of ultrasound-activated intracellular nanodomains for enhanced bone regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ultrafine lithium niobate (LiNbO3) nanoparticles (∼15 nm) for intracellular force-electric signal generation.
- Investigated nanoparticle internalization by stem cells and subsequent ultrasound stimulation.
- Analyzed cellular responses including lysosomal membrane perturbation, mitochondrial activity, and osteogenic gene expression (PI3K-AKT-Ibsp axis).
- Evaluated bone regeneration in a rabbit calvarial defect model.
Main Results:
- Efficient internalization of nanoparticles by stem cells, forming intracellular force-electric nanodomains.
- Ultrasound stimulation of nanodomains generated localized electrical signals, enhancing osteogenic activity without extracellular inflammation.
- Established a lysosome-to-mitochondria functional cascade and identified the PI3K-AKT-Ibsp pathway.
- Demonstrated significantly accelerated bone regeneration in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasonic-driven ultrafine piezoelectric nanodomains enable precise, subcellular force-electric regulation for bone regeneration.
- This intracellular strategy offers a novel materials-based approach to enhance osteogenesis and bone tissue repair.
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