The Development of EH Networks for Skeletal Muscle Regeneration within Abdominal Wall Hernias

Abstract

Incisional hernias are a common clinical problem occurring in up to 10% of all patients undergoing abdominal incisions. Current repair techniques involve the placement of xenografts, allografts, or prosthetic biomaterials. Despite these techniques, the incidence of hernia recurrence ranges from 24% to 54%. In order to address these high recurrence rates, we propose using a skeletal muscle engineering strategy. To this end, the novel cyclic acetal biomaterial, 5-ethyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-β,β-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-2-ethanol diacrylate, was functionalized to promote skeletal muscle regeneration. It was found that this biomaterial promotes myoblastic cell attachment and proliferation as well as the delivery of functional insulin-like growth factor 1 proteins <em>in vitro</em>; therefore demonstrating the scaffolds biocompatibility. Furthermore, mechanical properties of the scaffold were tested and the complex modulus was shown to decrease after a significant increase in initiator concentration. Overall, this work establishes the functionality of a degradable cyclic acetal as a scaffold for skeletal muscle engineering.