Biodegradable electrospun PLLA/HA-ATE composite polypropylene scaffold for hernia repair applications.
- 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830011, China.
- 2Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China.
- 3Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital Lishui Branch Southeast University, Nanjing,Jiangsu, 211200, China.
Abstract
Background
Abdominal wall hernias remain a significant clinical challenge, necessitating advanced repair materials that balance mechanical strength with biocompatibility. The drawbacks of polypropylene (PP) mesh limit its application scenarios.Objective
The present study aimed to develop a degradable anti-adhesion composite PP scaffold (PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP) and evaluate its potential efficacy in hernia repair.Materials and methods
We used coaxial electrospinning to fabricate scaffolds on PP substrates, combining poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), sodium hyaluronate (HA), and adipose tissue extract (ATE). The scaffold was characterized via SEM, mechanical testing, water contact angle measurement, and weight gain/loss analysis. In vitro cytocompatibility was assessed using L929 fibroblasts through CCK-8 and Live/Dead assays. In vivo performance was evaluated in a rat abdominal wall defect model (2.0cm×2.0cm) by analyzing adhesion formation, peritonealization, scaffold shrinkage, inflammatory response, and TGF-β1/MMP2 expression.Results
The PLLA-(HA-ATE) scaffold was successfully fabricated, with an average diameter of 0.956 ± 0.414 µm. PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP scaffold exhibited good mechanical properties (Young's modulus 44.92 MPa) that far exceeded the stress intensity of native abdominal wall. The scaffold's hydrophilicity was enhanced, with water absorption peaking within 4 hours. Cytocompatibility assessed via L929 fibroblasts showed promoted proliferation and adhesion. In a rat abdominal wall defect model, the scaffold effectively repaired defects, reduced adhesion area (e.g., significant anti-adhesion vs. PP group), and accelerated peritonealization, while alleviating foreign body reaction. Additionally, it down-regulated TGF-β1 expression, inhibiting fibrosis.Conclusion
The PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP scaffold combines biodegradability with anti-adhesion properties, improving abdominal wall repair and positioning it as a promising clinical candidate. The combination of in vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrates the scaffold's potential for clinical translation.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026biodegradable,
title = {{Biodegradable electrospun PLLA/HA-ATE composite polypropylene scaffold for hernia repair applications.}},
author = {Zhigang Zhang and Qiaochun Kou and Song Gao and Guangtao Zheng and Xinxin Tian and Muladili Tulahong and Nengqi Cao and Lei Wang},
journal = {Iranian journal of biotechnology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.30498/ijb.2025.557432.4281},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928726},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biodegradable electrospun PLLA/HA-ATE composite polypropylene scaffold for hernia repair applications.
AU - Zhigang Zhang
AU - Qiaochun Kou
AU - Song Gao
AU - Guangtao Zheng
AU - Xinxin Tian
AU - Muladili Tulahong
AU - Nengqi Cao
AU - Lei Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Iranian journal of biotechnology
DO - 10.30498/ijb.2025.557432.4281
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928726
AB - Background Abdominal wall hernias remain a significant clinical challenge, necessitating advanced repair materials that balance mechanical strength with biocompatibility. The drawbacks of polypropylene (PP) mesh limit its application scenarios.Objective The present study aimed to develop a degradable anti-adhesion composite PP scaffold (PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP) and evaluate its potential efficacy in hernia repair.Materials and methods We used coaxial electrospinning to fabricate scaffolds on PP substrates, combining poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), sodium hyaluronate (HA), and adipose tissue extract (ATE). The scaffold was characterized via SEM, mechanical testing, water contact angle measurement, and weight gain/loss analysis. In vitro cytocompatibility was assessed using L929 fibroblasts through CCK-8 and Live/Dead assays. In vivo performance was evaluated in a rat abdominal wall defect model (2.0cm×2.0cm) by analyzing adhesion formation, peritonealization, scaffold shrinkage, inflammatory response, and TGF-β1/MMP2 expression.Results The PLLA-(HA-ATE) scaffold was successfully fabricated, with an average diameter of 0.956 ± 0.414 µm. PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP scaffold exhibited good mechanical properties (Young's modulus 44.92 MPa) that far exceeded the stress intensity of native abdominal wall. The scaffold's hydrophilicity was enhanced, with water absorption peaking within 4 hours. Cytocompatibility assessed via L929 fibroblasts showed promoted proliferation and adhesion. In a rat abdominal wall defect model, the scaffold effectively repaired defects, reduced adhesion area (e.g., significant anti-adhesion vs. PP group), and accelerated peritonealization, while alleviating foreign body reaction. Additionally, it down-regulated TGF-β1 expression, inhibiting fibrosis.Conclusion The PLLA-(HA-ATE)-PP scaffold combines biodegradability with anti-adhesion properties, improving abdominal wall repair and positioning it as a promising clinical candidate. The combination of in vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrates the scaffold's potential for clinical translation.
SN - 1728-3043
SN - 2322-2921
ER -