Modified silicone elastomers to reduce capsular contracture

Abstract

Capsular contracture is a common complication associated with breast implants following reconstructive or aesthetic surgery whereby a tight or constricting scar tissue capsule forms around the implant, often distorting the breast shape and resulting in chronic pain. Various structural modifications of the implant device and surgical strategies have been and/or are currently used to help reduce the incidence of capsular contracture. The aim of this PhD project was to investigate a pharmacological approach to the modification of breast implant devices through the incorporation of various agents into the addition-cured silicone elastomer dispersions used to manufacture the shell component of the implants. Dexamethasone, simvastatin, triamcinolone acetonide, montelukast free acid and various copper and zinc substances (nanoparticles and salts) were the active agents selected for their anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antibacterial properties. The physical and mechanical properties of the agent-loaded silicone samples were tested for hydrophobicity and tensile strength. In vitro release of the agents was characterised using high-performance liquid chromatography or inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and the antibacterial potential of those samples was measured on a S. aureus (ATCC 6538), and an E.coli (ATCC 25922) strain. The results obtained to date are encouraging and indicate the potential of incorporating of various pharmacological agents directly into breast implant devices for a local delivery to reduce the risks of severe capsular contracture.

Date of Award	Jul 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	NuSil Technology LLC
Supervisor	Karl Malcolm (Supervisor) & Louise Carson (Supervisor)