壓電刺激在神經調節之研究
Investigation of piezoelectric stimulation for neuromodulation
計畫主持人：臺大醫工系-王兆麟、中研院生醫所-陳志成
本研究探討壓電特性在生理上所扮演的角色，特別是壓電刺激對骨骼相關細胞與神經細胞的影響，並基於所發現的特定作用轉譯設計適當的壓電醫材或療程。我們發現壓電刺激能有效促進骨髓幹細胞的遷移與分化，也影響軟骨細胞的極性與排列，這些細胞特性都和骨癒合息息相關，意即壓電刺激極可能促進骨癒合。我們已根據此一發現提出壓電骨材的開發計畫並申請相關專利，期待進一步在動物實驗中驗證壓電骨材對骨癒合的功效。我們也發現壓電刺激影響神經元突的延伸，這表示壓電刺激極有可能在神經創傷修復的過程中扮演一定的角色，我們將持續探討該影響的生物分子機制，以期能夠找出適合的轉譯應用。計劃期間團隊共計發表6篇與計畫相關的期刊論文，並獲得兩項中華民國發明專利和一項美國發明專利。
This study explores the role of piezoelectricity in physiology, in particular the influence of piezoelectric stimulation on cells in skeletal systems and neurons. The aim is to identify unique effects of piezoelectric stimulation for possible translation into clinical applications. Here we found that piezoelectric stimulation can facilitate migration and chondrogenesis of bone marrow derived stem cells. It also affects cell polarity and rearrangement of chondrocytes. All of these are relevant to bone fracture healing. In other words, piezoelectric stimulation could help facilitate fracture healing. Based on this finding, we have proposed new projects to develop piezoelectric implants and filed several patents related to this. We expect to validate our hypothesis in animal studies as the next step. We also found that piezoelectric stimulation can influence neurite outgrowth, suggesting potential therapeutic opportunities in neuronal repair in nervous system trauma. We will continue to explore molecular mechanisms for this effect and explore the possibility for translation. The joint research teams published 6 journal articles and obtained several patents, including 2 Taiwan and 1 US patents, during the course of this project.
