Breast cancer treatment sometimes requires the removal of part or all of the breast, leaving patients with the challenge of restoring breast volume. Traditional reconstructive methods often rely on prosthetic implants or tissue transplanted from other areas of the body, which can result in extensive scarring and lengthy recovery times.
Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Bio Materials have developed a prototype injectable paste derived from human skin cells that could revolutionize breast reconstruction. The novel approach aims to restore breast volume while reducing scarring and shortening healing time compared to conventional techniques.
“By promoting blood vessel growth and tissue remodeling while minimizing inflammation and reducing the risk of capsular contracture, this injectable acellular matrix could make breast reconstruction safer, less invasive, and more accessible,” said Pham Ngoc Chien, one of the study’s lead researchers.
During breast-conserving surgeries, physicians often rearrange remaining tissue to fill the space left by tumor removal. In some cases, skin and fat are donated from other parts of the body, leaving additional scars at the donor site. An alternative strategy uses acellular dermal matrix (ADM)—processed skin stripped of outer layers but retaining essential components like collagen, elastin, and growth factors that aid healing. ADM is currently available mainly in sheet form for tendon repair or plastic surgery.
Chien, Chan-Yeong Heo, and colleagues sought to create an injectable version of ADM suitable for breast reconstruction. They processed donated skin through decellularization, freezing, and pulverization to produce small ADM particles, which were then mixed with water to form a thick, injectable paste.
The team tested the new paste in rats, comparing it to two commercially available ADM products. After six months, the treated animals showed no adverse health effects. Notably, the new paste resulted in thinner tissue layers forming around the injected material—a desirable outcome, as thinner layers reduce the risk of complications like infections or hematomas in breast implant procedures.
While further safety trials and more complex studies are required before clinical use, the research highlights the potential of this injectable ADM paste to improve the safety, comfort, and cosmetic outcomes of breast reconstruction surgery.
