How preventing the body’s immune response could make biomedical implants last longer

BIOMEDICAL IMPLANTS — SUCH as pacemakers, breast implants and orthopedic hardware like screws and plates to replace broken bones — have improved patient outcomes across a wide range of diseases. However, many implants fail because the body rejects them, and they need to be removed because they no longer function and can cause pain or discomfort.

An immune reaction called the foreign body response — where the body encapsulates the implant in sometimes painful scar tissue — is a key driver of implant rejection. Developing treatments that target the mechanisms driving foreign body responses could improve the design and safety of biomedical implants.