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Published on: September 11, 2021
Polypropylene mesh for hernia repair with controllable cell adhesion/de-adhesion properties
Sonia Lanzalaco1, Luis Javier Del Valle1, Pau Turon2
1Departament d'Enginyeria Química, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany, 10-14, Ed. I.2, Barcelona, 08019, Spain. sonia.lanzalaco@upc.edu elaine.armelin@upc.edu and Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany, 10-14, Ed. I.S, Barcelona, 08019, Spain.
Researchers developed a novel polypropylene mesh with a thermosensitive hydrogel coating. This anti-adherent mesh significantly reduces fibroblast cell adhesion, offering a promising solution for abdominal hernia repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Abdominal hernia repair often involves surgical meshes that can cause unwanted tissue adhesion.
- Developing anti-adherent materials is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a versatile bilayer system combining a polypropylene (PP) mesh with a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel.
- To modulate cell adhesion properties by controlling hydrogel architecture and environmental temperature.
- To investigate the potential of this system as an anti-adherent mesh for abdominal hernia repair.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a polypropylene mesh coated with a covalently bonded PNIPAAm hydrogel.
- Tuning hydrogel architecture via PNIPAAm grafting time, crosslinker concentration (N,N'-methylene bis(acrylamide) - MBA), and temperature relative to the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST).
- Evaluation of cell adhesion (fibroblast COS-1, epithelial MCF-7) and material stability using in vitro assays and cold plasma treatment.
Main Results:
- A porous iPP-g-PNIPAAm bilayer system, prepared with 2h PNIPAAm grafting and 1 mM MBA, showed optimal results.
- Fibroblast cell detachment was 50% lower compared to control after 7 days, indicating significant anti-adhesion properties.
- The bilayer system demonstrated excellent stability in both dry and wet conditions, confirming robust hydrogel adhesion to the plasma-activated PP surface.
Conclusions:
- The developed thermosensitive hydrogel-coated polypropylene mesh effectively reduces fibroblast cell adhesion.
- This anti-adherent mesh system shows significant promise for improving abdominal hernia repair procedures.
- Controlling hydrogel parameters and utilizing cold plasma activation are key to achieving desired anti-adhesion performance.
