Application of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates as Surgical Films for Ventral Hernia Repair in Mice

Abstract EN

The cytotoxicity and biosafety of poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) and poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (P3HBV) films were investigated in vitro using 3T3 fibroblast cells and in vivo through subcutaneous implantation of the film in mice.

The in vitro test revealed that endotoxin-free P3HB and P3HBV films allowed cell attachment and growth.

Film-soaked conditional media showed no significant inhibitory or cytotoxic effects on cell proliferation.

The in vivo absorption test showed that both the P3HB and P3HBV films slowly degraded and that P3HB had a slower degradation rate than that of P3HBV.

Applying a P3HB film in hernia repair demonstrated a favorable outcome: the film was able to correct the abdominal ventral hernia by inducing connective tissue and fat ingrowth and exhibited an extremely slow rate of degradation.

Furthermore, the P3HB film demonstrated the advantage of lower intestinal adhesion to the ventral hernia site compared with the P3HBV and PP commercial films.