Significant improvement of biocompatibility of polypropylene mesh for incisional hernia repair by using poly-ζ-caprolactone nanofibers functionalized with thrombocyte-rich solution

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine 2015-01, p.2635
• Main Authors: Plencner, Ma, Prosecka, Eva, Rampichova, Michala, East, Barbora, Buzgo, Matej, Vyslouzilova, Lucie, Hoch, Jiri, Amler, Evzen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical properties; Hernia; Nanoparticles; Physiological aspects; Surgery
• ISSN: 1178-2013
• DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S77816

Incisional hernia is the most common postoperative complication, affecting up to 20% of patients after abdominal surgery. Insertion of a synthetic surgical mesh has become the standard of care in ventral hernia repair. However, the implementation of a mesh does not reduce the risk of recurrence and the onset of hernia recurrence is only delayed by 2-3 years. Nowadays, more than 100 surgical meshes are available on the market, with polypropylene the most widely used for ventral hernia repair. Nonetheless, the ideal mesh does not exist yet; it still needs to be developed. Polycaprolactone nanofibers appear to be a suitable material for different kinds of cells, including fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells. The aim of the study reported here was to develop a functionalized scaffold for ventral hernia regeneration. We prepared a novel composite scaffold based on a polypropylene surgical mesh functionalized with poly-ζ-caprolactone (PCL) nanofibers and adhered thrombocytes as a natural source of growth factors. In extensive in vitro tests, we proved the biocompatibility of PCL nanofibers with adhered thrombocytes deposited on a polypropylene mesh. Compared with polypropylene mesh alone, this composite scaffold provided better adhesion, growth, metabolic activity, proliferation, and viability of mouse fibroblasts in all tests and was even better than a polypropylene mesh functionalized with PCL nanofibers. The gradual release of growth factors from biocompatible nanofiber-modified scaffolds seems to be a promising approach in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Keywords: nanofibers, growth factors, polypropylene mesh, hernia regeneration, in vitro