Nanofiber meshes for abdominal hernia repair – challenges and opportunities

Implantation of any prosthetic material triggers a cascade of events that mark the initiation of the healing process. In the case of abdominal mesh implantation, the course of inflammation and wound healing are paramount. The biomaterials employed as a medical device are in close proximity with devitalized tissue parts which can promote microbial colonization resulting in infection and subsequently impaired wound healing. The advent of nanofiber based systems provides novel opportunities to develop hernia meshes with increased biocompatibility and good material strength. Electrospun nanofiber matrices exhibit morphological similarities to the natural extra-cellular matrix (ECM), with ultrafine continuous fibers, high porosity high surface-to-volume ratio, and variable pore-size distribution. This mini review summarizes the advantages and challenges associated to nanofiber systems.