# Implant Biofilm Mediated Immune Response

> **NIH NIH R01** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2022 · $307,807

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This is a proposal from early-stage investigator to address the mechanistic underpinnings of host-biofilm
interaction in the context of surgical implant-associated complications. It is estimated 10 million women
worldwide, including 3 million Americans have breast implants. Over 7 million Americans are living with hip/knee implants. Nearly 300,000 women annually have breast implant surgery in the United States, for reasons including post-mastectomy breast reconstruction (breast cancer and prophylactic mastectomy), revision of prior
augmentation/ reconstruction, cosmetic augmentation, and gender affirmation. Over 1 million total hip and total
knee replacement surgeries are performed each year in the US. With an aging population, there is a demand for
improved mobility and quality of life. The number of joint replacement surgeries are projected to increase
considerably in the future. Total joint replacement surgery is expected to continue to be one of the most common
elective surgical procedures in the coming decades.
There has been increased identification of patients experiencing a constellation of symptoms related to their
implants. The symptoms described include myalgias, chronic fatigue, connective-tissue disorders, and a host of
other manifestations often associated with autoimmune illnesses. In case of breast implants, these constellations
of immune symptoms are named Breast Implant Illness (BII). Similar symptoms have been reported in subjects
with orthopedic implants. Metal/plastic implants for arthroplasty and silicone implants for breasts are made of
different materials. Thus, the underlying cause of these conditions may be associated with factors other than
the implant material. Bacterial biofilms are one of the leading causes of surgical implant failures, infection and
revision surgeries. Despite efforts to maintain sterility during surgery, implantable medical devices can become
contaminated with the opportunistic bacteria from the host microflora many of which can form biofilm.
This proposal aims to investigate the role of bacterial biofilms in the implant-associated illness. Host-biofilm
interactions are guided by the local micro-environmental niche of host in which the biofilm reside. Breast and hip
joint replacements have a host-microenvironment rich in adipose tissue comprising lipids. The proposal aims to
study lipid metabolites formed during biofilm-host interaction. We hypothesize that a lipid metabolite formed due
to biofilm called (E)-10-hydroxy-8-octadecenoic acid (10-HOME) can stimulate CD4+ T cell leading to
autoimmune-like syndromes. The metabolite 10- HOME is a member of oxylipin formed by biofilm acting on host
oleic acid. Oxylipins are oxidized lipids formed from fatty acids by reactions involving dioxygen-dependent
oxidation. Oxilipins have been reported to contribute to inflammatory response. The proposal is based on
preliminary data derived from patient samples, studied extensively using in vitro an...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10587141
- **Project number:** 1R01AI165958-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Mithun Sinha
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $307,807
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-19 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10587141

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10587141, Implant Biofilm Mediated Immune Response (1R01AI165958-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10587141. Licensed CC0.

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