Anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing effects of semiconductor-embedded fabrics: current evidence and future perspectives.

Authors

Erwin Pavel Lamparelli, Saveria Batti, Claudia Orlanno, Federica Montella, Gina Myers, Nicola Maffulli, Giovanna Della Porta

Published in

British medical bulletin. Volume 159. Issue 1. Jul 03, 2026.

Abstract

Wearable fabrics embedding crystalline semiconductor materials (e.g. germanium, silicon) are promising biomedical devices for their therapeutic potential in musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and chronic pain, and for supporting tissue healing and regeneration. These fabrics exert their bioactive functions without applying mechanical pressure or drug delivery systems, offering a non-invasive and comfortable therapeutic alternative that operates through mild thermal stimuli at body temperature.
Recent peer-reviewed literature on semiconductor-based wearable textiles, far-infrared-emitting biomaterials, bioelectric signalling in tissue repair, and their clinical application in musculoskeletal disorders.
At body temperature, semiconductor-containing fabrics consistently emit far-infrared radiation, experimentally associated with improved microcirculation and modulation of inflammation. Limited clinical studies report improvements in pain and functional outcomes in chronic musculoskeletal conditions, with good tolerability during prolonged wear.
Proposed mechanisms include thermally induced electron release, ion generation, and piezoelectric or piezoresistive activity during movement, but direct biological evidence remains limited. The specific contribution of far-infrared emission is difficult to distinguish from thermal or placebo effects.
Advances in bioelectric signalling research and textile engineering provide a framework to investigate electroactive interactions between semiconductor fabrics and biological tissues.
Well-designed randomized trials, quantitative characterization of emitted physical stimuli, and mechanistic cellular studies are needed to establish clinical efficacy and inform regulatory classification.

PMID:
42543009
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Aug 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.