The coating consists of a thin layer of spider silk protein which modifies the implant. It can be applied to any silicone implant during the last stage of production, just before packaging and sterilization, without affecting the mechanical performance of the implant.
The preclinical results appearing in Advanced Functional Materials show that the new coating decreases the rate of major postoperative complications, such as capsular fibrosis, capsular thickness, hardening and inflammation. This is likely due to the reduction in the infiltration and differentiation of immune cells induced by a foreign body. The coating also results in a change in the processing of collagen and the formation of fibers in scar tissue, which is consistent with a reduced risk of capsule formation over time. The coating has modulated the response of the foreign body to the implant and is expected to reduce the risk of corrective surgery after cosmetic surgery and breast reconstruction, researchers from the University Hospital in Leipzig, Germany report.
