Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 27, 2026
Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Biodegradable electrospun PLLA/HA-ATE composite polypropylene scaffold for hernia repair applications
Zhigang Zhang1,2, Qiaochun Kou1, Song Gao1
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830011, China.
Background:
Abdominal wall hernias remain a significant clinical challenge, necessitating advanced repair materials that balance mechanical strength with biocompatibility. The drawbacks of polypropylene (PP) mesh limit its application scenarios.
Objective:
The present study aimed to develop a degradable anti-adhesion composite PP scaffold (PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP) and evaluate its potential efficacy in hernia repair.
Materials And Methods:
We used coaxial electrospinning to fabricate scaffolds on PP substrates, combining poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), sodium hyaluronate (HA), and adipose tissue extract (ATE). The scaffold was characterized via SEM, mechanical testing, water contact angle measurement, and weight gain/loss analysis. In vitro cytocompatibility was assessed using L929 fibroblasts through CCK-8 and Live/Dead assays. In vivo performance was evaluated in a rat abdominal wall defect model (2.0cm×2.0cm) by analyzing adhesion formation, peritonealization, scaffold shrinkage, inflammatory response, and TGF-β1/MMP2 expression.
Results:
The PLLA-(HA-ATE) scaffold was successfully fabricated, with an average diameter of 0.956 ± 0.414 µm. PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP scaffold exhibited good mechanical properties (Young's modulus 44.92 MPa) that far exceeded the stress intensity of native abdominal wall. The scaffold's hydrophilicity was enhanced, with water absorption peaking within 4 hours. Cytocompatibility assessed via L929 fibroblasts showed promoted proliferation and adhesion. In a rat abdominal wall defect model, the scaffold effectively repaired defects, reduced adhesion area (e.g., significant anti-adhesion vs. PP group), and accelerated peritonealization, while alleviating foreign body reaction. Additionally, it down-regulated TGF-β1 expression, inhibiting fibrosis.
Conclusion:
The PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP scaffold combines biodegradability with anti-adhesion properties, improving abdominal wall repair and positioning it as a promising clinical candidate. The combination of in vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrates the scaffold's potential for clinical translation.
