Implantable medical devices have revolutionized modern medicine. However, immune-mediated foreign body response (FBR) to the materials of these devices can limit their function or even induce failure. Here we describe long-term controlled release formulations for local antiinflammatory release through the development of compact, solvent-free crystals. The compact lattice structure of these crystals allows for very slow, surface dissolution and high drug density. These formulations suppress FBR in both rodents and non-human primates for at least 1.3 years and 6 months, respectively. Formulations inhibited fibrosis across multiple implant sitessubcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intramuscular. In particular incorporation of GW2580, a Colony Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor, into a range of devices including human islet microencapsulation systems, electrode-based continuous glucose-sensing monitors and musclestimulating devices, inhibits fibrosis, thereby allowing for extended function. We believe that local, long-term controlled release with the crystal formulations described here enhances and extends function in a range of medical devices and provides a generalized solution to the local immune response to implanted biomaterials. Implanted biomedical devices are an integral part of modern therapeutics, playing key roles in many clinical applications including neural interfacing 1 , monitoring vital signs 2 , pacemakers 3 , controlled drug release 4 , scaffolds for tissue reconstruction 5 , vascular stenting, cell encapsulation and transplantation 6. While the immunological response to materials can be therapeutic, for example with particulate vaccines 7 , some device materials, including polysaccharides, polymers, ceramics, and metals 8 , can induce host immune-mediated foreign body and rejection responses This response can lead to fibrotic encapsulation, and in some cases, reduced efficacy or failure 8-12. Current approaches for long-term maintenance of biomedical device implant biocompatibility often involve broad-spectrum antiinflammatories 13. Short-term steroid or anti-fibrotic drug delivery can transiently inhibit inflammatory cell recruitment as well as improve protein secretion of immuno-isolated cellular grafts 14,15. However, many anti-inflammatory drugs have multiple targets and differential effects in vivo, and associated toxicity 13,16. In particular, macrophages are known to be key mediators of the immune response to implanted biomaterials 8-10. Recently it was shown that the implant-induced foreign body response can be inhibited through selective targeting of the monocyte/macrophage-expressed colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF1R) receptor 10. Importantly, while macrophage numbers in the IP space as well as Farah et al.

Complete re-innervation after a traumatic injury severing a muscle's peripheral nerve may take years. During this time, the denervated muscle atrophies and loses acetylcholine receptors, a vital component of the neuromuscular junction, limiting functional recovery. One common clinical treatment for atrophy is electrical stimulation; however, epimysial electrodes currently used are bulky and often fail due to an excessive inflammatory response. Additionally, there remains a need for a device providing in vivo monitoring of neuromuscular regeneration and the maintenance of acetylcholine receptors. Here, an implantable, flexible microelectrode array (MEA) was developed that provides surface neuromuscular stimulation and recording during long-term denervation.Methods: The MEA uses a flexible polyimide elastomer and an array of gold-based microelectrodes featuring Peano curve motifs, which together maintain electrode flexibility. The devices were implanted along the denervated gastrocnemius muscles of 5 rats. These rats underwent therapeutic stimulation using the MEA daily beginning on post-operative day 2. Another 5 rats underwent tibial nerve resection without implantation of MEA. Tissues were harvested on post-operative day 14 and evaluated for quantification of acetylcholine receptors and muscle fiber area using immunofluorescence and histological staining.Results: The Young's modulus was 1.67 GPa, which is comparable to native tendon and muscle. The devices successfully recorded electromyogram data when implanted in rats. When compared to untreated denervated muscles, MEA therapy attenuated atrophy by maintaining larger muscle fiber cross-sectional areas (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the acetylcholine receptor areas were markedly larger with MEA treatment (p < 0.05).Conclusions: This proof-of-concept work successfully demonstrates the ability to combine conformability, tensile strength-enhancing metal micropatterning, electrical stimulation and recording into a functional implant for both epimysial stimulation and recording.

Given the increasing use of regenerative free muscle flaps for various reconstructive procedures and neuroprosthetic applications, there is great interest and value in their enhanced regeneration, revascularization, and reinnervation for improved functional recovery. Here, we implant polyimide-based mircroelectrodes on free flap grafts and perform electrical stimulation for 6 weeks in a murine model. Using electrophysiological and histological assessments, we compare outcomes of stimulated grafts with unstimulated control grafts. We find delayed reinnervation and abnormal electromyographic (EMG) signals, with significantly more polyphasia, lower compound muscle action potentials and higher fatigability in stimulated animals. These metrics are suggestive of myopathy in the free flap grafts stimulated with the electrode. Additionally, active inflammatory processes and partial necrosis are observed in grafts stimulated with the implanted electrode. The results suggest that under this treatment protocol, implanted epimysial electrodes and electrical stimulation to deinnervated, and devascularized flaps during the early recovery phase may be detrimental to regeneration. Future work should determine the optimal implantation and stimulation window for accelerating free muscle graft regeneration.

This paper presents a methodology for estimation of Motorcycle Equivalent Units (MEU) in mixed traffic flow for motorcycle dominated traffic with increased accuracy by considering dynamic characteristics of subject vehicles, like speed and effective area. Besides, this increased accuracy is the result of the inclusion of speed of adjacent motorcycles in the form of speed ratios to estimate the effective area required by the subject vehicle at a particular speed. The effective area for each sample is computed with consideration of the effective dimensions and speed of that subject vehicle and its adjacent motorcycles on both sides in the proposed methodology. Two mid-block sections of urban roads in Ahmedabad city were selected for field data collection by videography method in this case study. The collected field data was analysed through Speed Estimation from Video Data (SEV) software. A table of classified speed ratios is also presented to derive an idea regarding the magnitude of change in lateral clearances of subject vehicles. The MEU values obtained for cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, buses, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV), and bicycles were 3.02, 1.00, 1.84, 9.82, 6.2, and 1.9 respectively. Further, the proposed model was compared with a previously developed model to justify the increase in accuracy and to observe the variations in MEUs. The values estimated can be used to establish speed-flow relations, measure roadway capacity in urban roads, analyse the level of service in order to plan suitable traffic control and regulatory measures.