In Vitro Study: Synthetic Prosthetic Meshes for Inguinal Hernia Repair

Prosthetic mesh is widely used in inguinal hernia repair surgeries, where it is implanted to correct hernia defects. This study compared the biocompatibility and mechanical response of different prosthetic meshes in an in vitro cell culture to understand the roles of mesh materials and constructions in designing the ideal hernia mesh. Samples included heavyweight polypropylene, polyester, and two lightweight polypropylene meshes. Biocompatibility was measured by the morphology and proliferation of normal rat kidney cells (NRK-49F) on the meshes. Stiffness increased for all studied meshes after incubation with cells. Dynamic mechanical simulation was conducted to predict the long-term mechanical response of the meshes after implantation in the recipient.