Oxidative Degradation of Polypropylene Mesh in E. coli Environment

Medical implants of polypropylene (PP) are commonly used in many surgical procedures to support tissues. Previous studies on polypropylene meshes removed from patients demonstrated biodegradation relative to the amount of time after implantation. Among the many possible factors, bacterial colonization is believed to be one of the causes for the biodegradation of PP. To gain insights on this hypothesis, PP mesh samples were tested in Luria-Bertani broth (LB) media containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) to observe possible degradation in a controlled single-organism environment. Mesh samples were immersed in either an LB media with E. coli or a control solution, and the biodegradation was measured at 1-, 2-, and 3-month intervals. The samples were then harvested from both LB media with E. coli and the control media for analysis, and results were then compared with pristine polypropylene mesh. The experimental results demonstrate qualitative and quantitative bioerosion, increased oxygen content, and enhanced hydrophilicity over the surface of the mesh structure, thus confirming the oxidative degradation in vitro.