The device delivers a carefully controlled electrical current across the injury site. Waipapa Taumata Rau
In a breakthrough that could transform life after paralysis, scientists have successfully used a tiny spinal implant to restore movement in rats.
Spinal cord injuries are currently incurable, with devastating effects on people’s lives, but now a trial at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, offers hope for an effective treatment.
Spinal cord injuries shatter the signal between the brain and body, often resulting in a loss of function.
“Unlike a cut on the skin, which typically heals on its own, the spinal cord does not regenerate effectively, making these injuries devastating and currently incurable,” says lead researcher Dr Bruce Harland, a senior research fellow in the School of Pharmacy at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.
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 tissue along the spinal cord.
Now, scientists are trying to reawaken that dormant healing language.
Healing is promoted by safe and strong electrical signals, which would not be noticed by the patient, say Professor Darren Svirskis and Dr Bruce Harland.
In a new study, an implantable electronic device restored movement in animals with spinal injuries, raising hopes that this experimental treatment might one day help humans and even their pets regain lost function.
“We developed an ultra-thin implant designed to sit directly on the spinal cord, precisely positioned over the injury site in rats,” Dr Harland says.
The device delivers a carefully controlled electrical current across the injury site.
“The aim is to stimulate healing so people can recover functions lost through spinal-cord injury,” said Professor Darren Svirskis, director of the CatWalk Cure Programme at the University’s School of Pharmacy.
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.
Sparks beneath the spine
After four weeks, animals that received daily electric field treatment showed improved movement compared with those who did not. They also responded more quickly to gentle touch throughout the 12-week study.
“This indicates that the treatment supported recovery of both movement and sensation,” Harland said.
“Just as importantly, our analysis confirmed that the treatment did not cause inflammation or other damage to the spinal cord, demonstrating that it was not only effective but also safe.”
Researchers said that the study provided exciting proof of concept that electric field treatment could aid recovery after spinal cord injury.
“Long term, the goal is to transform this technology into a medical device that could benefit people living with these life-changing spinal-cord injuries,” says Professor Maria Asplund of Chalmers University of Technology.
The next phase will explore different treatment dosages—tweaking the strength, frequency, and duration of electrical stimulation—to refine the approach and move closer to a viable therapy for humans.
The study, published in Nature Communications, is a collaboration between the University of Auckland and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
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