A Peritoneum-Inspired Biomimetic Asymmetric Patch for Functional Repair and Anti-Adhesion in Abdominal Wall Defects
Ming Wang1, Wenjie Pan1, Jiaqi Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomaterials, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|June 11, 2026
Summary
A new biomimetic Janus patch (PS-PDH) repairs abdominal wall defects by preventing adhesion and promoting tissue regeneration. This innovative material offers a promising solution for hernia repair and reducing medical burden.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Abdominal wall soft tissue defects lead to poor repair outcomes like hernia recurrence and adhesions, increasing healthcare costs.
- Current repair materials lack essential properties such as anti-adhesion, wet tissue adhesion, biodegradability, and regenerative capacity.
- An ideal abdominal wall repair material must address these limitations for improved clinical efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a biomimetic Janus-structured repair patch (PS-PDH) for functional abdominal wall reconstruction.
- To assess the patch's asymmetric adhesive properties, mechanical robustness, and biocompatibility.
- To investigate the patch's ability to modulate the inflammatory microenvironment and promote tissue regeneration in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a Janus patch integrating a poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P4HB) fibrous membrane and a glutathione-responsive poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogel via polydopamine (PDA).
- Evaluation of asymmetric adhesion, mechanical properties, free radical scavenging, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) mitigation.
- Assessment of macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype.
- In vivo testing in a mouse full-thickness abdominal wall defect model.
Main Results:
- The PS-PDH patch demonstrated asymmetric adhesion, with the fibrous side promoting cell adhesion and the hydrogel side resisting it.
- The patch exhibited robust mechanical properties suitable for dynamic tissue environments and effectively scavenged ROS.
- In vivo studies showed PS-PDH prevented postoperative adhesion and fibrosis, modulated inflammation, and promoted muscle and vascular regeneration.
Conclusions:
- The biomimetic Janus-structured PS-PDH patch offers a promising strategy for functional abdominal wall repair.
- Its unique design addresses key challenges in hernia repair, including adhesion prevention and tissue regeneration.
- The patch demonstrates high clinical translatability for treating abdominal wall soft tissue defects.
