By Dr. Tim Sandle
June 29, 2025
DIGITAL JOURNAL
First introduced five decades ago, MRI scanners are now a cornerstone of modern medicine, vital for diagnosing strokes, tumors, spinal conditions and more, without exposing patients to radiation - Copyright AFP/File ALAIN JOCARD
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University of Auckland in New Zealand have combined to develop a groundbreaking bioelectric implant that restores movement in rats after injuries to the spinal cord. This breakthrough offers new hope for an effective treatment for humans suffering from loss of sensation and function due to spinal cord injury.
A recent report from the World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that approximately 15 million people worldwide live with spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord is made up of numerous nerve fibres that transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When damaged, the connection between the brain and body is shattered, often resulting in loss of sensation and function, and in severe cases, paralysis.
“Unlike a skin wound, which typically heals on its own, the spinal cord does not regenerate effectively, making these injuries devastating and currently incurable,” says Maria Asplund, Professor of Bioelectronics at Chalmers University of Technology.
Asplund is the senior author of a study recently published in Nature Communications, tited “Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats.”
First introduced five decades ago, MRI scanners are now a cornerstone of modern medicine, vital for diagnosing strokes, tumors, spinal conditions and more, without exposing patients to radiation - Copyright AFP/File ALAIN JOCARD
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University of Auckland in New Zealand have combined to develop a groundbreaking bioelectric implant that restores movement in rats after injuries to the spinal cord. This breakthrough offers new hope for an effective treatment for humans suffering from loss of sensation and function due to spinal cord injury.
A recent report from the World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that approximately 15 million people worldwide live with spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord is made up of numerous nerve fibres that transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When damaged, the connection between the brain and body is shattered, often resulting in loss of sensation and function, and in severe cases, paralysis.
“Unlike a skin wound, which typically heals on its own, the spinal cord does not regenerate effectively, making these injuries devastating and currently incurable,” says Maria Asplund, Professor of Bioelectronics at Chalmers University of Technology.
Asplund is the senior author of a study recently published in Nature Communications, tited “Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats.”
Electricity stimulated nerve fibers to reconnect
Before birth, and to a lesser extent afterwards, naturally occurring electric fields play a vital role in early nervous system development, encouraging and guiding the growth of nerve fibers along the spinal cord. Scientists are now harnessing this same electrical guidance system in the lab.
The esearchers developed an ultra-thin implant designed to sit directly on the spinal cord, precisely positioned over the injury site in rats, The device delivers a carefully controlled electrical current across the injury site. It is hoped to upscale this device for use with humans.
In the study, researchers observed how electrical field treatment improved the recovery of locomotion and sensation in rats with spinal cord injury. The findings offer renewed hope for individuals experiencing loss of function and sensation due to spinal cord injuries.
“Long-term, the goal is to transform this technology into a medical device that could benefit people living with life-changing spinal-cord injuries,” says Maria Asplund.
The study presents the first use of a thin implant that delivers stimulation in direct contact with the spinal cord, marking a groundbreaking advancement in the precision of spinal cord stimulation.
This study offers an exciting proof of concept showing that electric field treatment can support recovery after spinal cord injury.
Improved mobility after four weeks
Unlike humans, rats have a greater capacity for spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury, which allowed researchers to compare natural healing with healing supported by electrical stimulation.
After four weeks, animals that received daily electric field treatment showed improved movement compared with those who did not. Throughout the 12-week study, they responded more quickly to gentle touch.
The next step is to explore how different doses, including the strength, frequency, and duration of the treatment, affect recovery, to discover the most effective recipe for spinal-cord repair.
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