Electrical Stimulation of bone cells

 

Investigator: Thomas Kreller (PhD student)Thomas Kreller

Ulrich-Schalk-Straße 3
91056 Erlangen

room: 01.112

phone: +49(0)9131 85-69608

e-mail: thomas.kreller@fau.de

 

Supervisor: Dr. R. Detsch, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Aldo R. Boccaccini

 


Electrical stimulation (ES) has long been used to successfully treat non-healing bone fractures and has recently been shown to stimulate bone cells to migrate, proliferate, align and differentiate [1]. The objective of the DFG project “Electrical Stimulation of bone cells” is the consolidation of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts in one ES set-up to provide similar stimulation conditions. This project involves collaboration of our Institute (PI: Dr. R. Detsch) with Dr. Anika Jonitz-Heincke, Orthopaedic Hospital and Polyclinic, University Medicine Rostock. The influence of ES on bone remodelling (cell proliferation, differentiation and activation of mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells) will be systematically investigated in-vitro. Based on the relevance of osteoclasts in bone metabolism and healing [2], this project focuses initially on the electrical stimulation of monocytes, pre-osteoclasts and osteoclast-like cells on modified metallic substrates. To achieve this goal electroconductive materials will be functionalized to mimic natural bone surfaces [3]. Various coating methods will be adapted and evaluated.

[1]   L. Leppik et al., “Combining electrical stimulation and tissue engineering to treat large bone defects in a rat model”, Sci. Rep., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1–14, 2018.

[2]    R. Detsch and A. R. Boccaccini, “The role of osteoclasts in bone tissue engineering”, J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med., vol. 9, pp. 1133-1149, 2015.

[3]    J. Hum and A. R. Boccaccini, “Collagen as coating material for 45S5 bioactive glass-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering”, Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 19, no. 6, 2018.