Harnessing electromagnetic fields to assist bone tissue engineering

Author: Hongqi Zhao1, Chaoxu Liu1, Yang Liu1, Qing Ding1, Tianqi Wang1, Hao Li1, Hua Wu2, Tian Ma3
Affiliation:
1 Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
2 Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China. wuhua@hust.edu.cn.
3 Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China. 2020TJ5151@hust.edu.cn.
Conference/Journal: Stem Cell Res Ther
Date published: 2023 Jan 11
Other: Volume ID: 14 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 7 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-03217-z. , Word Count: 189


Bone tissue engineering (BTE) emerged as one of the exceptional means for bone defects owing to it providing mechanical supports to guide bone tissue regeneration. Great advances have been made to facilitate the success of BTE in regenerating bone within defects. The use of externally applied fields has been regarded as an alternative strategy for BTE. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs), known as a simple and non-invasive therapy, can remotely provide electric and magnetic stimulation to cells and biomaterials, thus applying EMFs to assist BTE would be a promising strategy for bone regeneration. When combined with BTE, EMFs improve cell adhesion to the material surface by promoting protein adsorption. Additionally, EMFs have positive effects on mesenchymal stem cells and show capabilities of pro-angiogenesis and macrophage polarization manipulation. These advantages of EMFs indicate that it is perfectly suitable for representing the adjuvant treatment of BTE. We also summarize studies concerning combinations of EMFs and diverse biomaterial types. The strategy of combining EMFs and BTE receives encouraging outcomes and holds a promising future for effectively treating bone defects.

Keywords: Bone regeneration; Bone tissue engineering; Electromagnetic fields; Osteogenesis.

PMID: 36631880 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03217-z

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