Researchers have developed a prototype injectable paste made from human skin cells that could help restore breast volume after tumour removal, offering a less invasive alternative to current breast reconstruction techniques. Reporting in ACS Applied Bio Materials, the team suggests that this approach may reduce scarring, shorten healing time, and improve long-term comfort and cosmetic outcomes for patients.
Challenges in Breast Reconstruction Today
During breast cancer treatment, surgeons often remove cancerous tissue along with surrounding damaged tissue. In some cases, this results in partial or complete removal of the breast. To restore breast volume, reconstructive surgery typically relies on prosthetic implants or tissue transplanted from other parts of the body.
Although breast-conserving surgical techniques allow surgeons to rearrange remaining tissue to fill the space left after tumour removal, these methods sometimes require skin and fat grafts from elsewhere in the body. While effective, such procedures leave additional scars at the donor sites.
Acellular Dermal Matrix: An Emerging Alternative
To overcome these limitations, surgeons have increasingly turned to acellular dermal matrix (ADM). This material comes from processed skin in which the outer cell layers are removed, leaving behind a scaffold rich in collagen, elastin, and growth factors that support healing and tissue regeneration.
However, ADM is currently available mainly in sheet form and is primarily used in tendon repair or plastic surgery. Recognising this limitation, Pham Ngoc Chien, Chan-Yeong Heo, and their colleagues set out to develop an injectable form of ADM suitable for space-filling breast reconstruction.
Creating an Injectable ADM Paste
To develop the new material, the researchers used skin donated by a living female participant. They processed the sample through multiple steps, including decellularisation, freezing, and pulverisation, to create fine ADM particles. The team then mixed these particles with water to form a thick, injectable paste.
“This injectable acellular matrix promotes blood vessel growth and tissue remodelling while keeping inflammation low and reducing capsular contracture,” said Pham Ngoc Chien, one of the study’s lead researchers. He added that such properties could make breast reconstruction safer, less invasive, and more accessible.
Promising Results in Animal Studies
As reported by news-medical.net, next, the researchers tested the paste by injecting small amounts into rats and compared its performance with two commercially available ADM products. Over a six-month observation period, the animals showed no adverse health effects.
Importantly, rats treated with the new ADM paste developed thinner layers of tissue around the injected material compared to those treated with existing ADM products. Thinner tissue layers are desirable in breast reconstruction because they lower the risk of complications such as infections and hematomas.
Looking Ahead to Clinical Use
Although the early findings are encouraging, the researchers emphasised that longer-term safety studies and more complex testing are necessary before the injectable ADM can be used in clinical practice. Nevertheless, they believe the study highlights the strong potential of this innovative material to transform breast reconstruction surgery and improve outcomes for patients recovering from breast cancer.