Preparation and properties of pearl powder/polypropylene composites and their biocompatibility

To improve the biocompatibility of PP monofilaments used for pelvic reconstruction mesh, natural pearl powders were introduced as fillers in the preparation of modified PP monofilaments. The mechanical properties the modified PP monofilaments were analyzed, followed by characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the biocompatibilities of these samples were investigated by MTT assay. The results revealed that the tensile strength and elongation of the as-prepared PP monofilaments can satisfy the requirement. According to the SEM images, masses of pearl powder were observed on the surface of monofilaments, which may favor the cell growth. The MTT results and the confocal microscopical images indicated that the presence of pearl powder in PP monofilaments led to improved proliferation and growth of L929 and PIEC cells under the same conditions, suggesting that PP monofilaments modified by pearl powders have a great potential in the applications of pelvic reconstruction.