Tissue Engineering And Nanotheranostics

“9.61x6.69” b2815 Tissue Engineering and Nanotheranostics

Characterization of Biomaterial Patches as Fetal Surgery Implants 35

implanted mesh can lead to numerous complications and eventual

revision surgery.

Li and coworkers studied the biomechanical behavior of Prolene®

PP mesh, which is commonly used for surgical repair procedures.

Dogbone-shaped samples of Prolene® mesh were cut coursewise (0°),

walewise (90°), and in the diagonal (45°) direction (Fig. 4) using

a laser cutter. Instron™ was used to carry out uniaxial tensile

testing.^13

To simulate large pressure changes during coughing and walking

upstairs, cyclic tests were conducted to observe the mechanical

response of the mesh under large amplitude responsive loading.^13 The

strength necessary for fascial closure of the abdominal wall is depend-

ent on the intraabdominal pressure, varying from 0.2 kPa to 20 kPa

in healthy humans. Considering the abdominal wall as a thin-walled

cylinder, a tensile strength of 1.6 kN/m is needed to bear the maxi-

mum intraabdominal pressure. Using this value and the mesh sample

width (40 mm), the maximum force encountered by the mesh was

estimated.^13 The force to bear resting pressure was gauged in a similar

manner, and used to decide the loading pattern for cyclic tests.^13

Fig. 4. Prolene® mesh directions.^13