Novel large-pore lightweight polypropylene mesh has better biocompatibility for rat model of hernia

Abdominal wall hernias are repaired with tension-free prosthetic materials but there remains a foreign body response (FBR) to commonly used polypropylene mesh. Thus, we should optimize mesh materials to improve the patient outcomes after surgery. A polypropylene mesh was developed with wrap knitting technique. The physical, mechanical and biocompatible characteristics were tested in a rat abdominal hernia model and compared to ULTRAPRO and Easy Prosthesis. Polypropylene mesh of two pore sizes was developed (LP-WKPM and SP-WKPM). Compared with ULTRAPRO and Easy Prosthesis mesh, the novel mesh were lighter, thinner, and stronger (p < 0.05). Among the four implanted mesh types, there were fewer inflammatory cells and foreign body giant cells surrounding LP-WKPM fibers (p < 0.05), and significantly fewer mononuclear cells and less neovascularization between LP-WKPM fibers (p < 0.05) On day 15, 30 and 90 after implantation there were no differences in foreign body giant cells compared to 15 days after implantation (p>0.05). We developed a novel large-pore lightweight polypropylene mesh that produced less FBR and better biocompatibility in an abdominal wall hernia model. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1269-1275, 2018.