Chrysanthemum–like hierarchitectures decorated on polypropylene hernia mesh and their anti-inflammatory effects

Aiming at the serious complications elicited by the inflammatory response to the polypropylene (PP) hernia mesh, we decorated the PP mesh with the immunomodulatory chondroitin sulfate (CS, a sulfated glycosaminoglycan present in extracellular matrixes) in the form of chrysanthemum–like hierarchitectures through the oxidative co-deposition with tannic acid (TA, a natural polyphenol compound). The mass ratio (MR) of TA to CS was modulated to obtain a hybrid colloidal particle with the balanced intermolecular interactions as the precursor of the co-deposition coating (TC). The interactions also protected the phenolic hydroxyls of TA from excessive oxidation and facilitated TA deposition, ultimately strengthening the antioxidant ability of TC. Relying on the immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties, the PP mesh coated with TC exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Moreover, TC had good stability without any adverse influence on the original mesh properties (the pore structure and compliance), which holds a great potential in the biocompatible modification of implants.