AMSilk announced that the silicone breast implants with its spider silk-based coating have reduced immune system-based side-effects in the preclinical studies.
The BioShield-S1 coating, which is comprised of a thin layer of recombinant spider silk proteins, is applied to a silicone implant after the final production step, just prior to packaging and sterilization.
The preclinical tests were conducted jointly with the University of Bayreuth, Germany and the Department of Trauma, Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the University of Wuerzburg, Germany.
First test conducted in rats has demonstrated that the coated silicone implants are accepted well by the body than implants without silk coating.
In addition, a follow-up one-year study has shown that the capsule formation around the implant differs significantly from controls, resulting in a thinner, more flexible and translucent capsule accompanied by a significant reduction in inflammation markers, claims to the company.
The study has also found that lower levels of some inflammation markers as well as fibroblast infiltration in patients from twelve months after surgery.
Study surgeon Dr Philip Zeplin said the new technology can be used for nearly all silicone-based products, which are used in reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgeries.