Adjustable implant surface coatings to reduce inflammation and scarring
Tunable Surface Coatings to Control Protein Dynamics and Attenuate the FBR
This project is developing adjustable surface coatings for medical implants to help reduce the inflammatory reaction and scarring that can form around devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250012 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a patient with or considering an implant, this work aims to create thin surface coatings that control how blood and tissue proteins stick to devices so they don't trigger inflammation. The team uses very sensitive lab techniques to watch single proteins and will test coatings in lab models and animals to find ones that keep proteins in their normal shape. They focus on preventing danger signals that activate immune receptors and lead to the thick fibrous scar that surrounds implants. If these coatings work, they could be applied to many devices to reduce scarring, pain, and device failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have, or are planning to receive, synthetic medical implants such as catheters, sensors, joint replacements, pacemakers, or similar devices would be the likely candidates for related trials.
Not a fit: People without medical implants or whose implant complications are caused by active infection, cancer, or unrelated systemic diseases may not benefit from these coatings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these coatings could lower implant-related inflammation and reduce the scar tissue that causes device failure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous coating approaches have sometimes reduced immune reactions in lab and animal studies, but this project is novel in targeting dynamic protein unfolding and its role in triggering immune receptors.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bryant, Stephanie J — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Bryant, Stephanie J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.