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Review
. 2020 Dec;41(12):960-976.
doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.09.014. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Electroceuticals in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Khalil B Ramadi  1 , Shriya S Srinivasan  1 , Giovanni Traverso  2
Affiliations
Review

Electroceuticals in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Khalil B Ramadi et al. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

The field of electroceuticals has attracted considerable attention over the past few decades as a novel therapeutic modality. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract (GIT) holds significant potential as a target for electroceuticals as the intersection of neural, endocrine, and immune systems. We review recent developments in electrical stimulation of various portions of the GIT (including esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestine) and nerves projecting to the GIT and supportive organs. This has been tested with varying degrees of success for several dysmotility, inflammatory, hormonal, and neurologic disorders. We outline a vision for the future of GI electroceuticals, building on advances in mechanistic understanding of GI physiology coupled with novel ingestible technologies. The next wave of electroceutical therapies will be minimally invasive and more targeted than current approaches, making them an indispensable tool in the clinical armamentarium.

Keywords: electrical stimulation; electroceuticals; gastrointestinal tract.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(A) Sites of electrical stimulation for therapy of gastrointestinal and related disorders. Each site is labeled with disorders it has been tested for. Also shown are Therapies for indications which are FDA and CE-approved stimulation sites are also shown. (B) Different forms of electroceutical stimulation.
Box 2, Figure 1.
Box 2, Figure 1.
Illustration of electrical pulse stimuli and related parameters. (A) Square, triangle, and sine wave formats. (B) Parameters of electrical stimuli that can be tuned.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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