Silicone implant coating with spider silk passes test

Planegg, Germany – AMSilk GmbH has completed preclinical testing of its silicone implant coating made from spider silk, reports Rubber & Plastics News.

The silk modifies the implant for a more acceptable surface to the human tissue. The firm said the coating can be applied to any silicone implant in the final production step, just prior to packaging and sterilization. It does not alter the mechanical performance of the implant.

The preclinical results have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. The company said surgeons and AMSilk scientists could show that the spider silk coating significantly reduces the rate of major post-operative complications such as capsular fibrosis, capsular thickness, hardening and inflammation.

The firm said these positive effects are based on a reduction of the typical foreign body induced infiltration and differentiation of immune cells.