Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a potential breakthrough in reducing the risk of implant rejection following surgery. A new study reveals that a drug acting as a metabolic inhibitor can prime the body to be more receptive to medical implants, such as pacemakers, replacement joints, and dental devices.
The multidisciplinary team, led by scientists from the university’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, used a metabolic modulator to enhance or suppress specific immune responses. This drug was combined with amorphous polylactide, a biomaterial commonly used in medical implants, to create a novel material. The material was then implanted into mice, with the immune response closely monitored over a ten-week period.
Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the study employed intravital microscopy—a technique that allows real-time observation of living subjects under a microscope. This enabled the team to track various immune cells around the implant site and assess how the body responded to the foreign material.
“Our findings could significantly impact patient recovery times, reduce complications such as chronic inflammation and implant rejection, and potentially lower healthcare costs,” said Ashley Makela, senior research associate at MSU’s College of Engineering. “These results may also influence how medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical researchers approach the design and development of implants in the future.”
The breakthrough offers hope for improving the success of medical implants and minimizing the challenges patients face during recovery.
You Might Be Interested In:
- Woman Awarded £250,000 in Damages Over Ruptured Breast Implants
- Ultrasound vs. MRI for Evaluating Silicone Leakage from Breast Implants
- Can Breast Implants Cause Eczema?
