A MCC950 analogue inflammasome inhibitor reduces the foreign body reaction against neural implants
Journal article, 2026
Devices implanted in the body provoke a foreign body reaction (FBR) that results in tissue encapsulation of the device and hampers its functionality over time. This FBR is particularly relevant regarding long-term implanted neural electrodes. Inflammasome inhibitors may represent a novel treatment to reduce the initial macrophage activation, and thus reduce the FBR and improve the outcome of implanted devices. We have synthetized an inflammasome inhibitor, named TDV19, and tested its capability to reduce macrophage activation in vitro, in comparison with the standard inhibitor MCC950. Then, polyimide thin-film devices were longitudinally implanted in the rat sciatic nerve and tested for 2 months to evaluate the intraneural FBR. Systemic administration of TDV19 and of MCC950 significantly reduced macrophage infiltration in the nerve and thickness of the fibrotic capsule around the device. Thus, systemic administration of inflammasome inhibitors appears as a useful treatment to improve the fate of chronically implanted neural electrodes.
Foreign body reaction
Sulfonamide
Macrophages
Neuroprosthesis
MCC950
Inflammasome
Intraneural electrode
Author
Jose Crugeiras
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Chiara Bisquoli
University of Ferrara
María Rodríguez-Brañas
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Bruno Rodríguez-Meana
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Tiziano De Ventura
University of Ferrara
Neus Hernández
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Jessica Jaramillo
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Alice Honovich
University of Ferrara
Ignacio Delgado-Martínez
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Natalia Lago
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Hanna Karlsson-Fernberg
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Electronics Material and Systems
Maria Asplund
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Electronics Material and Systems
Stefano Carli
University of Ferrara
Claudio Trapella
University of Ferrara
Giulia Turrin
University of Ferrara
Xavier Navarro
Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports
27724174 (eISSN)
Vol. 17 100357BioFunctional IntraNeural Electrodes (BioFINE)
European Commission (EC) (EC/HE/101099366), 2023-04-01 -- 2026-03-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Neurosciences
DOI
10.1016/j.ejmcr.2026.100357
Related datasets
Supplementary data [dataset]
URI: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S2772417426000361-mmc1.docx