Light-powered citrate bone implants to boost healing
Official title: Optoelectroactive citrate biocomposites for bone regeneration
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11385575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A light-activated implant that slowly releases citrate and gives gentle electrical stimulation to help people with bone injuries heal faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | April 18, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $541,093 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE033515-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with bone defects or fractures that heal poorly or need enhanced bone repair, such as non-unions or large bone loss from injury or surgery.
✕Less likely to help
People without bone repair needs or those with active bone infection, very poor blood supply to the area, or medical conditions that prevent implant placement may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing biodegradable bone implants that combine a controlled citrate release with tiny light-driven electrical stimulators to encourage bone-forming cells to work harder. The implant uses micro "solar" cell pellets that are activated by external light to provide local, untethered electrical signals while the material releases citrate at a controlled rate. Researchers will test how the combined chemical and electrical signals affect stem cells that become bone and will refine the materials to match bone healing needs. Early work is focused on lab and animal testing to prove safety and how well the implants support bone repair.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these implants could speed bone healing, improve bone strength, reduce pain, and lower the need for repeat surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Lab and animal studies of electrical stimulation and biomaterials for bone have shown promise, but combining light-powered stimulators with controlled citrate release is a new approach that has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Cunjiang — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Yu, Cunjiang
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.