Electrical stimulation may be essential for healthy tendons, study suggests

The research took place at the CÚRAM Research Centre for Medical Devices, funded through Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation Ireland.

This dual stimulation caused cells to better retain their healthy, tendon-specific properties, while being expanded in the lab, allowing them to be utilized in tissue repair and regeneration approaches.

Dr. Manus Biggs, Associate Professor at University of Galway and principal investigator of the study, outlined some wider implications of the research: "While our approach shows great potential for ultimately growing tendon tissues in the lab, it also has significant implications for generating other tissues that respond to dual electrical and mechanical forces, such as cartilage, bone, and even cardiovascular tissues. This study opens up new possibilities for developing therapies that promote tissue reinforcement and offer alternative or complementary strategies to current physical rehabilitation methods.

"We understand that traditional musculoskeletal therapies often rely on physical therapy which provides mechanical signals to the cells of regenerating tissues. In contrast, incorporating electrical stimulation provides greater precision in controlling how cells respond, offering a more effective approaches for applications in regenerative medicine. Critically, tendon piezoelectricity has long been alluded to have physiological functions. This study is one of the first of its kind that shows that piezoelectric signals can regulate cell differentiation and development."

Source:

University of Galway

Journal reference: