Dopamine-Mediated Zwitterionic Polyelectrolyte-Coated Polypropylene Hernia Mesh with Synergistic Anti-inflammation Effects

Over 20 million ventral hernia repairs are performed worldwide annually and only a minority (<10%) of cases are not mesh-based. However, even polypropylene (PP), endorsed as the gold standard of all prosthetic materials used in this field, is still subject to many complications caused by the foreign body reaction (FBR). Here, we describe the buildup of dopamine-mediated zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) coatings to inhibit nonspecific protein adsorption. Based on the universal adhesive ability of polydopamine (PDA), PSBMA has been coated on the PP mesh surface via two strategies: sequential deposition (PSBMA-PDA-PP) and co-deposition (PSBMA@PDA-PP). The presence of PSBMA shows great contribution to obviously decreased hydrophobicity of the PP surface (WCA(infinity) = 36.3 degrees and WCA(infinity) = 30.7 degrees) as well as improved protein resistance (Reduction(infinity) = 74% and Reduction(infinity) = 82%). Notably, as the intermedia between PP and PSBMA, PDA can endow the PP mesh with antioxidant activity, further featuring synergistic anti-inflammation therapeutic effect when coupled with PSBMA. With almost equal surface content of PSBMA, PSBMA-PDA-PP exhibited a more superior ability against macrophage adhesion and proliferation and showed more significantly decreased releases of TNF-alpha and IL-6 (p < 0.05) than those of PSBMA@PDA-PP, fundamentally attributed to its more neutral surface potential and the protection for polyphenols of PDA from oxidation with PSBMA as the outer layer. Furthermore, the coating layers demonstrated good stability and no sacrifice of the pristine mechanical property. The proposed dopamine-mediated PSBMA coatings possess high potential in biomedical implant areas for attenuating the FBR.