TY - JOUR
T1 - Dielectric Elastomer Actuators, Neuromuscular Interfaces, and Foreign Body Response in Artificial Neuromuscular Prostheses
T2 - A Review of the Literature for an In Vivo Application
AU - Bruschi, Alessandro
AU - Donati, Davide Maria
AU - Choong, Peter
AU - Lucarelli, Enrico
AU - Wallace, Gordon
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge Maria Pia Cumani (Laboratorio di Disegno Anatomico, Dip. Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna c/o Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli–Bologna, Italy) for originally creating the figures in this paper. The authors would like to acknowledge the Australian Research Council (ARC) (CE140100012) and the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Materials Node.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Advanced Healthcare Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
PY - 2021/7/7
Y1 - 2021/7/7
N2 - The inability to replace human muscle in surgical practice is a significant challenge. An artificial muscle controlled by the nervous system is considered a potential solution for this. Here, this is defined as a neuromuscular prosthesis. Muscle loss and dysfunction related to musculoskeletal oncological impairments, neuromuscular diseases, trauma or spinal cord injuries can be treated through artificial muscle implantation. At present, the use of dielectric elastomer actuators working as capacitors appears a promising option. Acrylic or silicone elastomers with carbon nanotubes functioning as the electrode achieve mechanical performances similar to human muscle in vitro. However, mechanical, electrical, and biological issues have prevented clinical application to date. Here materials and mechatronic solutions are presented which can tackle current clinical problems associated with implanting an artificial muscle controlled by the nervous system. Progress depends on the improvement of the actuation properties of the elastomer, seamless or wireless integration between the nervous system and the artificial muscle, and on reducing the foreign body response. It is believed that by combining the mechanical, electrical, and biological solutions proposed here, an artificial neuromuscular prosthesis may be a reality in surgical practice in the near future.
AB - The inability to replace human muscle in surgical practice is a significant challenge. An artificial muscle controlled by the nervous system is considered a potential solution for this. Here, this is defined as a neuromuscular prosthesis. Muscle loss and dysfunction related to musculoskeletal oncological impairments, neuromuscular diseases, trauma or spinal cord injuries can be treated through artificial muscle implantation. At present, the use of dielectric elastomer actuators working as capacitors appears a promising option. Acrylic or silicone elastomers with carbon nanotubes functioning as the electrode achieve mechanical performances similar to human muscle in vitro. However, mechanical, electrical, and biological issues have prevented clinical application to date. Here materials and mechatronic solutions are presented which can tackle current clinical problems associated with implanting an artificial muscle controlled by the nervous system. Progress depends on the improvement of the actuation properties of the elastomer, seamless or wireless integration between the nervous system and the artificial muscle, and on reducing the foreign body response. It is believed that by combining the mechanical, electrical, and biological solutions proposed here, an artificial neuromuscular prosthesis may be a reality in surgical practice in the near future.
KW - artificial muscles
KW - carbon nanotubes
KW - dielectric elastomer actuators
KW - foreign body response
KW - graphene
KW - Electrodes
KW - Nanotubes, Carbon
KW - Humans
KW - Elastomers
KW - Prostheses and Implants
KW - Foreign Bodies
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U2 - 10.1002/adhm.202100041
DO - 10.1002/adhm.202100041
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34085772
AN - SCOPUS:85107211727
SN - 2192-2640
VL - 10
SP - e2100041
JO - Advanced Healthcare Materials
JF - Advanced Healthcare Materials
IS - 13
M1 - 2100041
ER -