Exploring Trends in the Development of Bioelectronic Medicine: A Scoping Review
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Objectives: Electroceuticals, which regulate neural signals through electrical stimulation, have emerged as innovative therapeutic alternatives that could address the limitations of traditional chemical pharmaceuticals. However, despite the increasing interest in electroceuticals, their catego rization remains ambiguous. The aim of this scoping review was to clarify the concepts of electro ceuticals, identify their scope and forms, review the devices under development or undergoing commercialization, and examine the current status of human clinical studies on electroceuticals. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Five literature databases were searched using search strings based on the keywords “elec troceutical,” “electronic pharmaceutical,” and “bioelectronic medicine.” Results: Thirty-three stud ies were included in this review. Analysis of the studies showed that the number of clinical studies on electroceuticals, which were conducted using diverse methodologies, has steadily increased since 2018. In addition, the review showed that although electroceuticals were initially developed to stim ulate the nervous system and regulate immune functions, their applications have been broadened to include treatment of the skin (wounds/ulcers), eyes, and gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion: This review identified the general characteristics and comprehensive concepts of clinical research on electroceuticals, laying the groundwork for refining future definitions. Given the diversity of stimu lation sites—ranging from localized areas and specific cells to the central and peripheral nervous systems—and the variety of electrical stimulation methods, further research is essential to elucidate nerve–organ interaction mechanisms and standardize treatment protocols.
Abstract
Objectives: Electroceuticals, which regulate neural signals through electrical stimulation, have emerged as innovative therapeutic alternatives that could address the limitations of traditional chemical pharmaceuticals. However, despite the increasing interest in electroceuticals, their catego rization remains ambiguous. The aim of this scoping review was to clarify the concepts of electro ceuticals, identify their scope and forms, review the devices under development or undergoing commercialization, and examine the current status of human clinical studies on electroceuticals. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Five literature databases were searched using search strings based on the keywords “elec troceutical,” “electronic pharmaceutical,” and “bioelectronic medicine.” Results: Thirty-three stud ies were included in this review. Analysis of the studies showed that the number of clinical studies on electroceuticals, which were conducted using diverse methodologies, has steadily increased since 2018. In addition, the review showed that although electroceuticals were initially developed to stim ulate the nervous system and regulate immune functions, their applications have been broadened to include treatment of the skin (wounds/ulcers), eyes, and gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion: This review identified the general characteristics and comprehensive concepts of clinical research on electroceuticals, laying the groundwork for refining future definitions. Given the diversity of stimu lation sites—ranging from localized areas and specific cells to the central and peripheral nervous systems—and the variety of electrical stimulation methods, further research is essential to elucidate nerve–organ interaction mechanisms and standardize treatment protocols.