Preliminary study for developing a fully biological breast implant

Breast cancer reconstruction remains limited by complications associated with current techniques. This study evaluates a novel biological breast implant composed of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) shaped like a silicone implant, combined with natural biological content, including autologous fat, in a single porcine model.

Four implant types were tested in subcutaneous pockets of a Yorkshire pig: implants filled with autologous fat and dermal microbeads, implants filled with autologous fat alone, implants filled with dermal microbeads alone, and an implant made entirely of P4HB mesh. Clinical, physical, and histological evaluations were performed over three months, focusing on inflammation, neovascularization, and tissue integration.

The implant filled with autologous fat and dermal microbeads demonstrated good integration, moderate neovascularization, and fibrous encapsulation, though some steatonecrosis occurred. The implant filled with autologous fat alone failed structurally by day 60. Implants filled with dermal microbeads and the P4HB mesh implant exhibited poor integration and rigidity.

This study represents a first step in developing a fully biological breast implant. While the combination of an ADM implant with natural fillers such as autologous fat and dermal microbeads shows promise, further experiments are necessary to refine the implant's content. Future research will focus on optimizing the ratio of fat to microbeads and exploring alternative fillers, such as hyaluronic acid or collagen gel, to improve adipocyte viability, vascularization, and long-term functionality.