To design a nanomaterial coated with growth factor to make a hernia repair patch and examine its effect on the repair of abdominal wall defect in rats.

Growth factor VEGF165 and FGF-21 were prepared by electrostatic spinning. Thirty SD rats, weighing 100 to 120 g, were randomly divided into two groups (n=15) with full-thickness abdominal wall defect caused (1 cm×1 cm) by surgery. Growth factor coated nanofiber hernia graft and polypropylene hernia graft were used for repair. General observation of the operation objects, detection of seroma formation in the surgical site, histological observation and comparison of inflammatory factors expression were made after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of operation in batches (5 samples per time point).

(1) Growth factor VEGF165 and FGF-21 coated nanofibrous hernia graft were successfully made in this study. (2) All of the experimental rats were healthy and alive after surgery, no adverse reactions such as hernia fistula occurred in the two groups and the defects were completely repaired. (3) In addition, there was no significant difference in seroma formation in the surgical site between the two groups (P>0.05). (4) The number of macrophages and foreign body macrophages in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group at 1 and 2 weeks after operation (56.3±7.3 vs 75.2±9.6, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at 4 weeks after surgery. (5) The inflammatory response of abdominal wall tissue in the surgical site of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. (6) The expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in the abdominal wall at the surgical site in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (63.67±5.10 vs 194.43±25.39, P<0.01; 84.24±8.22 vs 171.41±15.86, P<0.01).

The growth factor coated nanofiber hernia graft has good biocompatibility and can reduce the inflammatory response in the surgical site, worthy further study.