Recent Advances for Improving Functionality, Biocompatibility, and Longevity of Implantable Medical Devices and Deliverable Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Abstract The great majority of medical devices elicit foreign body response (FBR) postimplantation. FBR is a major hurdle to develop a successful device for impaired organs, leading to failure of devices/treatments. In recent times, several advantageous technologies have been developed based on either surface modifications or localized drug delivery systems (DDSs) in order to overcome the FBR limitation, which enhanced the success of implantable medical devices. The recent advances for improving the functionality, biocompatibility, and longevity of implantable medical devices and deliverable DDSs are discussed here. It is believed that these advances will further guarantee the improvement of existing implants and deliverable entities while enabling the development of new therapy technologies. Such technologies are anticipated to be long‐term patient‐friendly and thus lead to a higher quality of life.