New Device to Control Acute Inflammation

A groundbreaking biohybrid device developed by researchers helps control acute inflammation to prevent sepsis and other related life-threatening complications. The body's natural inflammatory response is an essential reaction to injury and infection. When acute inflammation escalates out of control, such as in sepsis, it causes nearly 10% of deaths in the U.S. and more than $17 billion in healthcare costs each year.

"A device like this has the promise to be the 'Goldilocks' of inflammation … to be that 'just right' modulation of inflammation," says Yoram Vodovotz, PhD, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh.

Sepsis / Septicemia-Causes-Symptoms-Treatment-Complications
Septicemia or sepsis is a serious illness wherein a patient develops symptoms due to presence of microbes or their toxins in the blood. Septicemia or sepsis is caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi.

This is the first report of a device– in essence an auxiliary organ– that can reprogram the inflammatory response at the whole-organism level. It represents a foundational concept and design that can accommodate cells genetically modified in an infinite variety of ways and that can be engineered and tailored to meet many different clinical applications.

Source-Eurekalert

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