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Dynamic creep properties of a novel nanofiber hernia mesh in abdominal wall repair

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Abstract

Purpose

Incisional hernia is the most common complication following abdominal surgery. While mesh repair is common, none of the current meshes mimic the physiology of the abdominal wall. This study compares suture only repair with polypropylene mesh and a prototype of a novel implant (poly-epsilon-caprolactone nanofibers) and their influence on the physiology of an abdominal wall in an animal model.

Methods

27 Chinchilla rabbits were divided into six groups based on the type of the implant. Midline abdominal incision was repaired using one of the compared materials with suture alone serving as the control. 6 weeks post-surgery animals were killed and their explanted abdominal wall subjected to biomechanical testing.

Results

Both—hysteresis and maximum strength curves showed high elasticity and strength in groups where the novel implant was used. Polypropylene mesh proved as stiff and fragile compared to other groups.

Conclusion

Poly-epsilon-caprolactone nanofiber scaffold is able to improve the dynamic properties of healing fascia with no loss of maximum tensile strength when compared to polypropylene mesh in an animal model.

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Acknowledgements

The article was supported by the Internal Grant Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (Project no. NV17-32285A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 3rd Department of Surgery, Motol University Hospital, V uvalu 84, 15006, Prague, Czech Republic

    B. East

  2. 2nd Medical Faculty at Charles University, V uvalu 84, 15006, Prague, Czech Republic

    B. East

  3. Department of Biophysics, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, V uvalu 84, 15006, Prague, Czech Republic

    M. Plencner & E. Amler

  4. Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Department of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic

    M. Plencner

  5. Department of Biomechanics and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 31, 162 52, Prague, Czech Republic

    M. Otahal

  6. Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic

    M. Otahal

  7. Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK

    A. C. de Beaux

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  1. B. East
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  2. M. Plencner
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Correspondence to B. East.

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All authors state that they have no conflicts of interests that could potentially influence or bias the submitted work.

Ethical approval

The Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Scientific Experiments on Animals were respected throughout this study. The maintenance and handling of experimental animals followed EU Council Directive (86/609 EEC), and the animals were treated in accordance with the principles of Care and Use of Animals. The investigation was approved by the Expert Committee of the Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences, Prague, CR, and conformed to Czech Animal Protection Law no. 246/92.

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East, B., Plencner, M., Otahal, M. et al. Dynamic creep properties of a novel nanofiber hernia mesh in abdominal wall repair. Hernia 23, 1009–1015 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-019-01940-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-019-01940-w

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