Flexoelectricity in Bone Repair
A research group in Barcelona Spain has observed that tiny bone fractures emit a low voltage electrical field that stimulates tissue regeneration. Flexoelectricity, as this process involves, is a spontaneous electrical polarization along a strain gradient. According to this piece: “By studying strain gradients in bones and pure bone mineral (hydroxyapatite), the researchers have been able to calculate the precise magnitude of this electric field. Their findings indicate that it is sufficiently large within the required 50 microns of the crack tip to be sensed by the cells responsible for bone repair, directly implicating flexoelectricity in this process.” The researchers hope this observation will improve prosthetic design and performance. MORE
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