Bioelectric implant helps restore movement after paralysis

A new bioelectric implant has restored movement in rats with spinal cord injuries, offering early evidence of a possible future treatment for paralysis in humans.

The ultra-thin device sits directly on the spinal cord and delivers a carefully controlled electrical current across the injury site, encouraging damaged nerve fibres to heal.

Rats treated daily for four weeks showed improved movement compared with untreated animals. These improvements—including quicker responses to gentle touch—were sustained over a 12-week period.

Rats naturally have a higher capacity for spontaneous recovery than humans, which allowed the researchers to directly compare natural healing with electrically-supported recovery.

The implant builds on the body’s own natural electric fields, which guide nerve growth during early development and to a lesser extent after birth.

Bruce Harland, senior research fellow at the University of Auckland and co-lead author of the study, said: “We developed an ultra-thin implant designed to sit directly on the spinal cord, precisely positioned over the injury site in rats.”

“The aim is to stimulate healing so people can recover functions lost through spinal cord injury,” added professor Darren Svirskis of the University of Auckland, also a senior author.

This study is the first to use a thin implant that delivers stimulation in direct contact with the spinal cord—something the researchers describe as a significant step forward in the precision of spinal cord stimulation.

Safety assessments showed no signs of inflammation or tissue damage caused by the implant.

Svirskis 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 will next examine how different treatment variables—such as current strength, frequency, and duration—affect recovery outcomes.