Collagen, by way of injections, can get rid of your frown lines, crow's feet, and wrinkles to prolong a youthful appearance. Now, researchers at the University of Louisville/Jewish Hospital's Cardiovascular Innovation Institute  (CII; KY) have discovered that the protein may also prolong the life of implantable devices.

Because they are recognized by the body as foreign substances, implantable devices are subjected to the body's natural defense mechanism. "One of the biggest problems with any kind of implanted device, such as a pacemaker, a chemotherapy port, or the glucose sensors necessary to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, is the body's natural reaction to recognize it as foreign and form a scar around it," Stuart Williams, scientific director of the CII and a senior investigator on the study told Science Daily. "Scars have very little blood flow and because this connection between the body and the device is compromised, the function of the device over time can decline, threatening health and leading to additional interventions to replace it."

The researchers, however, may have found a way to protect the implant in vivo by encasing it in a collagen gel prior to implantation. Found naturally in connective tissue, collagen can prevent scar formation, according to the scientists. With this knowledge, the team suspended minuscule blood vessel fragments in a collagen gel to form what it dubbed a microvascular construct (MVC). The gel was applied to the device and implanted in the body where it effectively restricted scar tissue formation, the researchers report.

This technology, according to the scientists, shows promise for prolonging implant life and could have numerous benefits for patients with a variety of implants. The team's next project is the development of an OR-compatible device to help bring the technology to patients.