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RACS ASC 2026
Design of a 3D-printed, vascularised and human-derived collagen breast implant for autologous breast augmentation.
Verbal Presentation

Verbal Presentation

Disciplines

Breast Surgery

Presentation Description

Institution: St Vincent's Hospital Clinical School, UNSW - NSW, Australia

Objectives This project aims to design and validate a 3D-printed, human-derived resorbable collagen breast implant incorporating a vascularised framework and intended for autologous breast augmentation, providing a biologically integrated alternative to synthetic implants while preserving soft-tissue biomechanics and aesthetic outcomes. Introduction Synthetic breast implants have long been the mainstay of breast augmentation, with associated issues of capsular contracture, foreign body response, implant rupture or malposition, and breast-implant illness. More recently, fat grafting has emerged as an effective technique for autologous augmentation but alternatively limited by issues of volume retention and graft perfusion. Advances in biofabrication and additive manufacturing with bio-inks have created opportunities to engineer patient-specific, biologically integrated scaffolds that more closely replicate native breast tissue. Method We describe the technical design and fabrication of a patient-scalable, 3D-printed collagen scaffold with incorporated vascularised microchannel networks intended to facilitate perfusion and host vessel inosculation. Structural integrity, degradation profiles, and suitability for integration with autologous tissue were also evaluated. Results The collagen implants demonstrated reproducible fabrication, maintained structural integrity under physiologic loading, and exhibited favourable tactile qualities similar to native breast tissue. In vitro testing demonstrated good potential for biocompatibility and supported cellular adherence and infiltration. Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of designing a 3D-printed, human-derived collagen breast implant with properties suitable for autologous augmentation. This platform potentially offers a scalable and biologically integrated alternative to synthetic implants, with broad potential applications in reconstructive surgery, regenerative medicine, and personalised tissue engineering.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Serag Saleh - , Dr Elias Moisidis -