ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying both the cause of naturally occurring electric signals in human tissues and the effects bioelectric signals have on stem, progenitor, and fully differentiated cells. It discusses the use of conductive polymers to convey electrical cues to cells for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The chapter discusses how electric signals have the ability to alter membrane potentials, activate or inhibit cell surface receptors, and re-arrange membrane proteins. Intracellular calcium signaling is known to regulate signal transduction, cytoskeletal reorganization, and cell orientation and migration. Endogenous bioelectric signals play a key role in cell function. To study this, researchers have applied an exogenous electric field (EF) of physiological magnitude to multiple cell types, allowing the researchers to carefully observe and quantify the effects EFs have on cellular processes. Small electric signals have a powerful effect on the outcome of embryogenesis, tissue maintenance, and tissue repair.
