Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats
Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause permanent loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions, with limited therapeutic options available. Low-frequency electric fields with changing polarity have shown promise in promoting axon regeneration and improving outcomes. However, the metal electro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60332-0 |
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| author | Bruce Harland Lukas Matter Salvador Lopez Barbara Fackelmeier Brittany Hazelgrove Svenja Meissner Simon O’Carroll Brad Raos Maria Asplund Darren Svirskis |
| author_facet | Bruce Harland Lukas Matter Salvador Lopez Barbara Fackelmeier Brittany Hazelgrove Svenja Meissner Simon O’Carroll Brad Raos Maria Asplund Darren Svirskis |
| author_sort | Bruce Harland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause permanent loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions, with limited therapeutic options available. Low-frequency electric fields with changing polarity have shown promise in promoting axon regeneration and improving outcomes. However, the metal electrodes used previously were prone to corrosion, and their epidural placement limited the penetration of the electric field into the spinal cord. Here, we demonstrate that a thin-film implant with supercapacitive electrodes placed under the dura mater can safely and effectively deliver electric field treatment in rats with thoracic SCI. Subdural stimulation enhanced hind limb function and touch sensitivity compared to controls, without inducing a neuroinflammatory response in the spinal cord. While axon density around the lesion site remained unchanged after 12 weeks, in vivo monitoring and electrochemical testing of electrodes indicated that treatment was administered throughout the study. These results highlight the promise of electric field treatment as a viable therapeutic strategy for achieving long-term functional recovery in SCI. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d992efd4d0d47ca9c12d15a4deddd0a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d992efd4d0d47ca9c12d15a4deddd0a2025-08-20T02:37:58ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-06-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-60332-0Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in ratsBruce Harland0Lukas Matter1Salvador Lopez2Barbara Fackelmeier3Brittany Hazelgrove4Svenja Meissner5Simon O’Carroll6Brad Raos7Maria Asplund8Darren Svirskis9School of Pharmacy, University of AucklandDepartment of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of TechnologySchool of Pharmacy, University of AucklandDepartment of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, School of Medical Sciences, University of AucklandSchool of Pharmacy, University of AucklandSchool of Pharmacy, University of AucklandDepartment of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, School of Medical Sciences, University of AucklandSchool of Pharmacy, University of AucklandDepartment of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of TechnologySchool of Pharmacy, University of AucklandAbstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause permanent loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions, with limited therapeutic options available. Low-frequency electric fields with changing polarity have shown promise in promoting axon regeneration and improving outcomes. However, the metal electrodes used previously were prone to corrosion, and their epidural placement limited the penetration of the electric field into the spinal cord. Here, we demonstrate that a thin-film implant with supercapacitive electrodes placed under the dura mater can safely and effectively deliver electric field treatment in rats with thoracic SCI. Subdural stimulation enhanced hind limb function and touch sensitivity compared to controls, without inducing a neuroinflammatory response in the spinal cord. While axon density around the lesion site remained unchanged after 12 weeks, in vivo monitoring and electrochemical testing of electrodes indicated that treatment was administered throughout the study. These results highlight the promise of electric field treatment as a viable therapeutic strategy for achieving long-term functional recovery in SCI.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60332-0 |
| spellingShingle | Bruce Harland Lukas Matter Salvador Lopez Barbara Fackelmeier Brittany Hazelgrove Svenja Meissner Simon O’Carroll Brad Raos Maria Asplund Darren Svirskis Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats Nature Communications |
| title | Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats |
| title_full | Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats |
| title_fullStr | Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats |
| title_short | Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats |
| title_sort | daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60332-0 |
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