Brain implants hold immense promise for restoring function in patients with paralysis, epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
But a team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University has discovered that bacteria can invade the brain after a medical device is implanted, contributing to inflammation and reducing the device’s long-term effectiveness.
The groundbreaking research, recently published in Nature Communications, could improve the long-term success of brain implants now that a target has been identified to address.
“Understanding the role of bacteria in implant performance and brain health could revolutionize how these devices are designed and maintained,” said Jeff Capadona, Case Western Reserve’s vice provost for innovation, the Donnell Institute Professor of Biomedical Engineering and senior research career scientist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.