Electric, bioactive scaffold to help repair injured peripheral nerves
Developing multi-cue piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair
An implantable scaffold that generates tiny electrical signals to guide nerve regrowth for people with serious peripheral nerve injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249639 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a flexible scaffold that combines a piezoelectric polymer (PVDF-TrFE) with natural nerve matrix to support and guide regrowing nerves. The material produces small electrical pulses when stimulated remotely by ultrasound-like 'ultrashock' or by mechanical movement, so it can stimulate cells without wires or electrodes. The team will measure and control those electrical signals and study how Schwann cells (the support cells for peripheral nerves) attach, align, and change on the scaffold. These experiments aim to fine-tune the scaffold before testing its ability to bridge large nerve gaps in repair models.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with significant peripheral nerve injuries and large nerve gaps who need new repair options would be the likely candidates for future clinical testing.
Not a fit: People with minor nerve injuries that are expected to recover on their own or patients who cannot undergo surgical implantation would likely not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve guided nerve regrowth and functional recovery after severe peripheral nerve injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional nerve conduits and electrical stimulation have shown encouraging preclinical and some clinical results, but combining piezoelectric polymers with decellularized extracellular matrix and remote activation is relatively new and mostly untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Greg M — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Harris, Greg M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.