Tuning the physicochemical properties of hernia repair meshes by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation

Abstract

This work was aimed at the fabrication and characterization of hernia repair mesh coatings as innovative solutions that facilitate optimal local integration of implants and prevent the risk of infection. The concept involves the application of a laser-based technique, i.e., matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE), for the deposition of polymer/carbon nanotube blends as thin layers on monofilament, macroporous polypropylene, and polyester meshes. Various polymer/carbon nanotube blends are chosen to be deposited as thin layers on the primary blanks (i.e., commercially available meshes). The chosen materials are single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer. Carrying out morphological investigation of the as-deposited coatings, i.e., by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we found that the morphology and topography of the PEO/CNT coatings may be tuned by varying the concentration of CNT in the starting material. By increasing the concentration of CNTs in the as-deposited films, they become smoother. In addition, by investigating the chemistry of the coatings surface, we found that it is possible to deposit PEO/CNT coatings by MAPLE with an unaltered chemical structure. In addition, XPS investigation revealed that the films with the 20% CNT are CNT-like, while the films with 2% CNT are PEO-like. The ability to control the morphological and structural properties of the PEO/CNTs blends covering the primary hernia repair meshes demonstrates that MAPLE is a suitable technique for the manufacture of healthcare-intended systems.