In Vivo and In Vitro Fibroblasts' Behavior and Capsular Formation in Correlation with Smooth and Textured Silicone Surfaces

Abstract

Background: As the most principal complication following breast augmentation with silicone breast implants, capsular contracture is greatly influenced by surface texture. However, there have long been widespread debates on the function of smooth or textured surface implants in reducing capsular contracture.

Materials and methods: Three commercially available silicone breast implants with smooth and textured surfaces were subjected to surface characterization, and in vitro and in vivo assessments were then implemented to investigate the effect of these different surfaces on the biological behaviors of fibroblasts and capsular formation in rat models.

Results: Surface characterization demonstrated that all three samples were hydrophobic with distinct roughness values. Comparing the interactions of fibroblasts or tissues with different surfaces, we observed that as surface roughness increased, the adhesion and cell spreading of fibroblasts, the level of echogenicity, the density of collagen and α-SMA-positive immunoreactivity decreased, while the proliferation of fibroblasts and capsule thickness increased.

Conclusions: Our findings elucidated that the effect of silicone implant surface texture on fibroblasts' behaviors and capsular formation was associated with variations in surface roughness, and the number of myofibroblasts may have a more significant influence on the process of contracture than capsule thickness in the early stage of capsular formation. These results highlight that targeting myofibroblasts may be wielded in the prevention and treatment strategies of capsular contracture clinically.

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Keywords: Capsular contracture; Capsular formation; Fibroblasts; Myofibroblasts; Silicone disk implant; Surface texture.