Experimental study on application of polypropylene hernia of fat stem cells in rats

An inguinal hernia is the most common type of external abdominal hernia. Normal surgery utilized polypropylene mesh to fix a hernia, but often leads to adverse effects including pain and foreign body sensation. Adipose-derived stem cells are pluripotent stem cells that can be differentiated into adipocytes, chondrocytes, skeletal myoblast and osteoblast. The compatibility of stem cells with absorbent material mesh or cellular biology mesh has been studied. This study investigated the application of adipose-derived stem cells coated polypropylene mesh in treating an inguinal hernia.

Adipose-derived stem cells were separated and cultured from adipose tissues of SD rats. Flow cytometry was utilized to determine antigen subtype including CD90, CD34, CD44, and CD45 on the cell surface. Those cells were then induced to be differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes. Adipose-derived stem cells coated polypropylene mesh was then prepared and implanted under a muscular layer of rat peritoneal cavity. The occurrence of hematoma and routine blood indexes were examined.

Adipose-derived stem cells showed attached growth with satisfactory proliferation ability. Flow cytometry results showed positive rates for CD90, CD44, CD34, and CD45 at 98.2% ± 1.4%, 97.6% ± 2.3%, 54.3% ± 6.3%, and 13.4% ± 4.2%, respectively. Adipose-derived stem cells had the potency of differentiation. The application of novel mesh decreased macrophage number and lymphocytes (p < 0.01) but not leukocytes or neutrophils (p > 0.05).

Adipose-derived stem cells coated polypropylene mesh can decrease the inflammation post inguinal hernia and can be used as one novel biomaterial in treating an inguinal hernia.