Fluorinated poly(aryl ether)/polypropylene composite patch for prevention of abdominal adhesions after hernia repairs†

Hernia typically does not heal spontaneously. Large-pore patches, most notably polypropylene patches (PP patches), are the gold standard in hernia repair surgery. However, a single patch is insufficient for both anti-adhesion and tissue fusion, leading to complications such as organ adhesions. In this study, a chemically stable and biocompatible modified fluorinated poly(aryl ether) (FPAE-F) was prepared by grafting perfluoroalkyl groups onto a fluorinated poly(aryl ether) via nucleophilic aromatic substitution. A porous FPAE-F fiber film (eFPAE-F) was fabricated by electrospinning and combined with a PP patch to produce a modified fluorinated poly(aryl ether)/polypropylene (FPAE-F/PP) composite patch. The eFPAE-F layer of the composite patch, which faces the abdominal viscera, exhibits a water contact angle of 151.3 ± 1.2°. This superhydrophobic surface prevents protein adhesion, thereby inhibiting rapid fibroblast proliferation. The small pore size (3.22 ± 1.25 μm) of the eFPAE-F layer effectively impedes fibroblast infiltration while permitting the transport and metabolism of nutrients. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that the composite patch is a viable anti-adhesion material, resulting in no adhesions and low inflammation levels after 2 weeks. Due to its outstanding anti-adhesion properties, eFPAE-F/PP is expected to be applied in the field of hernia repair.