Antimicrobial Meshes for Hernia Repair: Current Progress and Perspectives

Abstract

Recent advances in the development of biomaterials have given rise to new options for surgery. New-generation medical devices can control chemical breakdown and resorption, prevent post-operative adhesion, and stimulate tissue regeneration. For the fabrication of medical devices, numerous biomaterials can be employed, including non-degradable biomaterials (silicone, polypropylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) or biodegradable polymers, including implants and three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering, which require particular physicochemical and biological properties. Based on the combination of new generation technologies and cell-based therapies, the biocompatible and bioactive properties of some of these medical products can lead to progress in the repair of injured or harmed tissue and in tissue regeneration. An important aspect in the use of these prosthetic devices is the associated infection risk, due to the medical complications and socio-economic impact. This paper provides the latest achievements in the field of antimicrobial surgical meshes for hernia repair and discusses the perspectives in the development of these innovative biomaterials.

A preliminary In Vitro viability study of an electrically active hernia mesh on mouse fibroblasts

“…However, many synthetic materials can cause local inflammation, do not support cell adhesion and proliferation, and do not have resistance to infection, which can disrupt cellular integration. 6,7 This can result in areas where the mesh is not well-anchored to the surrounding tissue, potentially leading to complications such as mesh movement or hernia recurrence. However, there have been few studies exploring the mechanics between implanted mesh and the human tissue interface compared to animal models where the mechanics can differ drastically.…”

Non-destructive processing of silver containing glass ceramic antibacterial coating on polymeric surgical mesh surfaces

“…[7][8][9] Despite these advantages, the risk of infection in PP-M is a leading cause of hernia repair failure, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. 10,11 Infections post-hernia repair surgeries also result in significant healthcare expenditure due to hospital readmissions and reoperations. [12][13][14] Mesh infection generally involves a "race for the surface", where host cells and bacteria compete for adherence to the mesh surface.…”

“…7–9 Despite these advantages, the risk of infection in PP-M is a leading cause of hernia repair failure, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. 10,11 Infections post-hernia repair surgeries also result in significant healthcare expenditure due to hospital readmissions and reoperations. 12–14…”

Surface Modification of Artificial Implants by Hybrid Nanolayers: Antimicrobial Surface Finishing and Strength Tests

“…Furthermore, artificial surfaces are divided based on the method of preparation. These include, for example, surface polymerization, functionalisation by plasma, or surfaces modified by layers, i.e., hybrid layers with antimicrobial effect [1,23,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65].…”