University of Manchester researchers have created an enhanced silicone breast implant surface, which could make capsular contracture less likely.
“It has previously been shown that rougher surfaces (also known as textured surfaces) reduce the amount of scar tissue formed around breast implants, but the Manchester scientists felt that they could improve this by creating a pattern which mimicked [the] body's own surface, such as the basal layer of the skin, providing a better environment for the cells to grow on,” according to a university release.
The researchers replicated hierarchical micro and nanoscale acellular dermal matrix features in polydimethylsiloxane, according to the study’s published abstract. They cultured human breast-derived fibroblasts on polydimethylsiloxane surfaces for up to a week and compared what they found to commercially available smooth and textured silicone implant surfaces. They found acellular dermal matrix polydimethylsiloxane surfaces promoted cell adhesion, proliferation and survival compared to traditional implant surfaces. The investigational implant surface also increased focal contact formation and spread fibroblast morphology compared to commercially-available surfaces.
A reduced inflammatory cytokine response was also observed, according to study authors.
"Some of the surfaces seen on implants today were designed originally in the ‘60s and ‘70s and, therefore, there is an unmet need for delivering the next generation of biomimetic breast implant surfaces. The original designers found that surface features so-called 'bumps' on the existing surfaces had an adverse effect, but what we did was to reduce the size, dimension and appearance of these bumps down from the size of say, a hill, to that of a pebble,” the study’s lead author Ardeshir Bayat, Ph.D., M.B.B.S., M.R.C.S., says in the release. “This makes interaction at the cellular level much better. Nevertheless, we need to do a lot more work to bring this to the clinic ….”
Dr. Bayat tells Cosmetic Surgery Times that the University of Manchester has filed a patent application on the new surface for breast implants.
“The fact that existing surfaces are not biocompatible, and there is an established link with fibrosis (leading to breast capsular contracture) and significant abnormal changes can be detected with some of the existing surfaces, makes our work in developing a new biomimetic surface of significant interest. Next steps include a clinical trial of these surfaces against existing surfaces,” he says.
