An injectable conductive hydrogel for closed-loop and robot-assisted rehabilitation via stretchable patch-type electrodes.

IF 16 1区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Nature Protocols Pub Date : 2025-05-19 DOI:10.1038/s41596-025-01184-2

Subin Jin, Heewon Choi, Donghee Son, Mikyung Shin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Conventional therapies for severe musculoskeletal and neurological injuries require lengthy recovery periods, which may result in residual disabilities. As an innovative rehabilitation approach, the combination of soft conducting hydrogels as an injectable tissue prosthesis with self-healing, stretchable bioelectronic devices offers a promising solution to expedite tissue repair and enhance functional restoration. This class of tissue prostheses can help address the critical limitations of traditional materials and devices by providing a minimally invasive approach to filling tissue defects and reconstructing the electrophysiological environment. The integration of an injectable tissue prosthesis with exoskeleton robotics in closed-loop systems enables tailored rehabilitation interventions that optimize motor function efficiency. Here we provide the step-by-step instructions for the development and characterization of injectable tissue-interfacing conductive hydrogels and soft self-healing, stretchable bioelectronic devices. We also describe how to establish a fully integrated closed-loop rehabilitation system and show its efficacy in a rat model of volumetric muscle loss. Using this approach, we have achieved accelerated tissue regeneration and improved myofiber regeneration in rats, underscoring the potential of this approach to improve rehabilitation strategies for severe injuries. The protocol is suitable for users with experience in biomaterials, devices and animal handling and requires 30 d to complete.

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一种可注射的导电水凝胶，通过可拉伸的贴片型电极用于闭环和机器人辅助康复。

对于严重的肌肉骨骼和神经损伤的常规治疗需要很长的恢复期，这可能导致残障。作为一种创新的康复方法，软导电水凝胶作为一种可注射的组织假体与自我修复、可拉伸的生物电子装置相结合，为加快组织修复和增强功能恢复提供了一种有前途的解决方案。这类组织假体可以通过提供一种微创的方法来填补组织缺陷和重建电生理环境，从而帮助解决传统材料和设备的关键局限性。将可注射组织假体与外骨骼机器人集成在闭环系统中，实现量身定制的康复干预，优化运动功能效率。在这里，我们为可注射的组织界面导电水凝胶和柔软的自修复、可拉伸的生物电子设备的开发和表征提供了一步一步的说明。我们还描述了如何建立一个完全集成的闭环康复系统，并展示了其在大鼠体积性肌肉损失模型中的有效性。使用这种方法，我们已经在大鼠身上实现了加速组织再生和改善肌纤维再生，强调了这种方法在改善严重损伤康复策略方面的潜力。该方案适用于具有生物材料，设备和动物处理经验的用户，需要30天完成。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nature Protocols 生物-生化研究方法

CiteScore

29.10

自引率

0.70%

发文量

128

审稿时长

4 months

期刊介绍： Nature Protocols focuses on publishing protocols used to address significant biological and biomedical science research questions, including methods grounded in physics and chemistry with practical applications to biological problems. The journal caters to a primary audience of research scientists and, as such, exclusively publishes protocols with research applications. Protocols primarily aimed at influencing patient management and treatment decisions are not featured. The specific techniques covered encompass a wide range, including but not limited to: Biochemistry, Cell biology, Cell culture, Chemical modification, Computational biology, Developmental biology, Epigenomics, Genetic analysis, Genetic modification, Genomics, Imaging, Immunology, Isolation, purification, and separation, Lipidomics, Metabolomics, Microbiology, Model organisms, Nanotechnology, Neuroscience, Nucleic-acid-based molecular biology, Pharmacology, Plant biology, Protein analysis, Proteomics, Spectroscopy, Structural biology, Synthetic chemistry, Tissue culture, Toxicology, and Virology.