Femtosecond Laser-Structured Polypropylene Mesh Implant for Enhanced Postoperative Recovery in Reconstructive Breast Surgery

Polypropylene (PP) mesh implanting has emerged as a breast reconstruction approach to restore normal anatomical contours. However, developing biomedical PP mesh with enhanced anti-inflammatory properties, superior mechanical strength, and efficient manufacturing remains a significant challenge. In this study, we report a drug-loading PP mesh by incorporating triclosan into femtosecond (fs) laser-treated PP mesh scaffolds. The fs laser induced micro/nano structures significantly enhanced the drug-loading capacity and antibacterial efficacy of triclosan-modified PP mesh, as indicated by the area of inhibition rings (2.5-fold relative to the blank groups). In vivo breast reconstruction experiments using female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats demonstrate accelerated scab formation and wound healing. Additionally, the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test reveals high vascular density (11.43 µg/mL of CD31 and 0.32 µg/mL of CD163) and reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels (145 pg/mL of IL-6 and 33 pg/mL of TNF-a), further confirming the anti-inflammatory properties of the fs laser-treated triclosan-modified PP mesh. This study presents a novel approach to improving the clinical performance of PP meshes for biomedical applications.