Zwitterionic polydopamine coatings suppress silicone implant-induced capsule formation

A synthetic zwitterionic dopamine derivative ( ZW -DOPA) containing both catechol and amine groups was recently shown to exhibit excellent antifouling activity on marine surfaces. Here, we have extended these analyses to investigate the effects of ZW -DOPA coating on silicone implants. Successful formation of ZW -DOPA coatings on silicone implants was confirmed based on a combination of decreased static water contact angles on silicone implants, evidence of new peaks at 400.2 (N 1s), 232.2 (S 2s), and 168.0 (S 2p) eV, and increased quantitative atomic composition of C 1s with a concurrent decrease of Si 2p. Anti-biofilm formation assays revealed that ZW -DOPA coating prevented biofilm formation on silicone at a non-lethal concentration (0.5 mg mL −1 ). Capsule formation was also significantly inhibited by ZW -DOPA coating in vivo and the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts was significantly suppressed. Together, these data suggest that silicone implants coated with ZW -DOPA may prevent capsular contracture after insertion when used in breast surgery. This work demonstrates that zwitterionic polydopamine ( ZW -DOPA) coating effectively suppressed silicone implant-induced capsule formation through anti-biofilm and anti-fibrotic effects.