Electrochemical influence of collagen piezoelectric effect in bone healing

Bone healing and growth are controlled by the rate of deposition of hidroxiapatite (HA). This process have been so far accredited to the work of osteoblasts, which are attracted by the electrical dipoles produced either by piezoelectricity, due to deformation of the bone, specially the collagen in it, or due to outside electrical stimuli. The present work shows that even without osteoblasts present, the piezoelectric dipoles produced by deformed collagen, can produce the precipitation of HA by electrochemical means, without catalyzer as in biomimetic deposition. These findings could clarify the contribution of osteoblasts in bone growth as compared to the electrochemical action by itself. Further studies ascertaining the osteoblastic activity due to the electric field are being advanced.