Photosensitive materials and potential of photocurrent mediated tissue regeneration

Photocurrent therapy with participation of light and electrical stimulations could be an innovative and promising approach in regenerative medicine, especially for skin and nerve regeneration. Photocurrent is generated when light irradiates on a photosensitive device, and with more and more types of photosensitive materials being synthesized, photocurrent could be applied for enhanced regeneration of tissue. Photosensitive scaffolds such as composite poly (3-hexylthiophene)/polycaprolactone (P3HT/PCL) nanofibers are fabricated by electrospinning process in our lab for skin regeneration in presence of applied photocurrent. This review article discuss on the various in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies that utilized the principle of 'electrotherapy' and 'phototherapy' for regenerative medicine and evaluates the potential application of photocurrent in regenerative medicine. We conclude that photocurrent therapy will play an important role in regenerative medicine. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.