Current polymeric mesh for hernia repair fail to possess sufficient mechanical strength to act as a scaffold for native tissue regeneration while also being biodegradable. In this study, we investigated potential use of linear and branched valine – based poly(ester urea)s (PEUs) for hernia mesh repair. PEUs degrade into nontoxic byproducts in vivo and have tunable mechanical and degradation properties. A branched tri-O-benzyl-L-tyrosine-1,1,1-trimethylethane triester monomer (TYR-Triol), a series of linear bis(L-valine)-diol monomers and PEUs of varying diol length, and branched poly[(1-VAL-8)0.98-co-(TYR-Triol)0.02] and poly[(1-VAL-10)0.98-co-(TYR-Triol)0.02] PEUs were synthesized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data of linear poly(1-VAL-8) and poly(1-VAL-10) show glass transition temperatures (Tg) above physiological temperature. The elastic moduli indicate that poly(1-VAL-8) and poly(1-VAL-10) possess mechanical properties comparable to polypropylene, a commonly used rigid, nonresorbable mesh, and also have tunable degradation. Poly(1-VAL-8), poly(1-VAL-10), poly[(1-VAL-8)0.98-co-(TYR-Triol)0.02], and poly[(1-VAL-10)0.98-co-(TYR-Triol)0.02] tensile bars were implanted subcutaneously in rats to assess the effect of degradation on mechanical properties. Histology and in vivo toxicology analyses will also be conducted.

Synthesis and characterization of linear and branched valine-based poly(ester urea)s for hernia mesh repair

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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