Preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) modified polypropylene mesh and its antiadhesion efficacy in experimental hernia repair

In surgical hernia repair, the intraabdominal adhesion formation needs to be prevented. As currently used prosthetic mesh materials, antiadhesion properties of polypropylene (PP) still be highly desirable. In the present study, we developed a new type of polypropylene (PP) hernia mesh, namely, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) modified PP mesh (PP-g-PVA). The native PP mesh was first activated with 02 plasma for 30 s, and then reacted with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and maleic anhydride for 2 h, finally grafted with PVA in phosphorus pentachloride (PC15) solution in pyridine. The chemical group changes on the surface of PP was monitored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra, and analysis results confirmed that the PVA was effectively grafted onto the PP. Antiadhesion efficacy and complications of PP-g-PVA mesh were evaluated through repairing rabbit abdominal wall defect at implantation time point of 7 days, 1 month and 3 months. Cross-sections of the mesh parietal peritoneum overlap were examined histologically and graded for inflammation reaction. Compared with the control groups (native PP mesh), a very strong ability to resist peritoneal cavity adhesions (P < 0.05) was observed in the experimental groups (PP-g-PVA mesh), and however, there was no significant increase in the inflammation formation (P > 0.05). This PVA-modified PP mesh displayed a rather satisfying antiadhesion property in animal abdominal wall defect repair. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.