One-Step Surface Functionalized Hydrophilic Polypropylene Meshes for Hernia Repair Using Bio-Inspired Polydopamine

Abstract

An ideal hernia mesh is one that absorbs drugs and withstands muscle forces after mesh implantation. Polypropylene (PP) mesh devices have been accepted as a standard material to repair abdominal hernia, but the hydrophobicity of PP fibers makes them unsuitable to carry drugs during the pre-implantation of PP meshes. In this study, for the first time, one-step functionalization of PP mesh surfaces was performed to incorporate bio-inspired polydopamine (PDA) onto PP surfaces. All PP mesh samples were dipped in the same concentration of dopamine solution. The surface functionalization of PP meshes was performed for 24 h at 37 °C and 80 rpm. It was proved by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) results that a thin layer of PDA was connected with PP surfaces. Moreover, water contact angle results proved that surface functionalized PP meshes were highly hydrophilic (73.1°) in comparison to untreated PP mesh surfaces (138.5°). Thus, hydrophilic PP meshes with bio-inspired poly-dopamine functionalization could be a good choice for hernia mesh implantation.

Keywords

• polypropylene
• hernia meshes
• surface functionalization
• polydopamine