Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of conductive polymers to promote nerve re-

描述（由申请人提供）：本质导电聚合物（icp）具有良好的生物相容性，可作为底物，向锚定依赖性细胞（如成骨细胞、内皮细胞和神经元）传递电刺激。这种刺激加速了细胞的生长和增殖。在之前的NIH SBIR项目中，TDA研究公司开发了可生物降解的icp形式，并与德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校合作，证明了这些聚合物可用于向神经元样细胞提供体外电刺激。我们还证明了不同类型的电刺激可以用来控制神经元样细胞的分化。我们将我们的导电可生物降解的icp包覆在神经引导通道内壁上，并成功地用于引导大鼠坐骨神经断裂的体内再生。第一阶段SBIR项目的目标是通过一系列体外实验，开发一种将无线电磁能量传输到导电、可生物降解的聚合物管的最佳方法。在第二期项目中，我们将使用第一期开发的方法和设备在动物模型中对导电和可生物降解的神经引导通道进行无创经皮电刺激。我们的目的是证明经皮电刺激能加速周围神经损伤的愈合。TDA研究公司最近开发的可生物降解聚合物具有导电性。实验表明，当这些聚合物受到电场刺激时，能促进和加速神经细胞的再生。当形成管状时，这些聚合物可以在体内用于包围被切断的神经，刺激并引导新细胞生长。因此，需要一种经皮施加电刺激的方法。通过进行一系列体外实验，将能量电磁传递到导电、可生物降解的聚合物管的最佳方法进行经验确定。这项研究对未来发展经皮刺激系统促进体内神经生长至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Intrinsically Conducting Polymers (ICPs) have good biocompatibility and can be used as substrates to deliver electrical stimulation to anchorage-dependent cells such as osteoblasts, endothelial cells and neurons. This type of stimulation speeds up cells' growth and proliferation. During a previous NIH SBIR project, TDA Research, Inc. developed forms of ICPs that are biodegradable and, in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, demonstrated that these polymers could be used to deliver in vitro electrical stimulation to neuron-like cells. We also demonstrated that different types of electrical stimulation could be used to control the differentiation of neuron-like cells. We used our conducting biodegradable ICPs to coat the inner walls of Nerve Guidance Channels and successfully used them to guide in vivo re-growth of severed sciatic nerves in rats. The objective of this Phase I SBIR project is to develop an optimal method to transfer wireless electromagnetic energy to a conductive, biodegradable polymer tube through a series of in vitro experiments. In the Phase II project we will use the method and device developed in Phase I to carry out non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of a conducting and biodegradable Nerve Guidance Channel in an animal model. We aim to demonstrate that transcutaneous electrical stimulation accelerates the healing of damaged peripheral nerve injuries. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Biodegradable polymers recently developed by TDA Research, Inc. exhibit the benefit of being electrically conductive. Tests showed that these polymers, when excited by an electric field, facilitate and hasten the regeneration of nerve cells. When formed into a tubular shape, these polymers can be used in vivo to surround a severed nerve, stimulating and channeling new cell growth. Thus, the need for a transcutaneous method of applying the electrical stimulus arises. An optimal method of the electromagnetic transfer of energy to a conductive, biodegradable polymer tube will be empirically determined by performing a series of in vitro experiments. This research is essential to the future development of a transcutaneous stimulation system to promote in vivo nerve growth.