# Design of a Janus Composite Patch with Anti-Adhesive and Growth-Promoting Functions for Abdominal Wall Defect Repair

## TL;DR

A new three-layer patch was developed to repair abdominal wall defects by preventing adhesions and promoting tissue regeneration.

## Contribution

The Janus composite patch combines anti-adhesive and tissue-promoting layers for improved hernia repair.

## Key findings

- The patch showed excellent tensile strength (23.58 N/cm), exceeding clinical standards.
- In vivo tests showed reduced visceral adhesion and enhanced tissue repair compared to control patches.
- The patch demonstrated good biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

## Abstract

Tension-free hernioplasty has effectively reduced postoperative recurrence and mitigated complications by employing polymer patches. However, clinically used polymer patches often fall short in terms of the anti-deformation, anti-adhesion, and tissue integration functions, which can result in visceral adhesions and foreign body reactions after implantation. In this study, a Janus three-layer composite patch was developed for abdominal wall defect repair using a combination of 3D printing, electrospraying, and electrospinning technologies. On the visceral side, a dense electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/sodium hyaluronate (PVA/HA) scaffold was fabricated to inhibit cell adhesion. The middle layer, composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), provided mechanical support. On the muscle-facing side, a loose and porous electrospun nanofiber scaffold was created through electrospraying and electrospinning, promoting cell adhesion and migration to facilitate tissue regeneration. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the composite patch possessed excellent tensile strength (23.58 N/cm), surpassing the clinical standard (16 N/cm). Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the patch’s outstanding biocompatibility. Compared with the control PCL patch, the Janus composite patch significantly reduced the visceral adhesion and enhanced the tissue repair in animal models. Collectively, this Janus composite patch integrated anti-deformation, anti-adhesion, and tissue-regenerative properties, providing a promising solution for effective abdominal wall defect repair.