Oxygen-generating biodegradable surgical mesh

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a novel oxygen-generating biodegradable surgical mesh, and to methods of making and using the novel oxygen-generating biodegradable surgical mesh. More specifically, a novel surgical mesh has been developed, wherein the surgical mesh has a flexible basic structure and comprises a plurality of pores, wherein the surgical mesh has a first face and a second opposite face, wherein the surgical mesh is made of a substantially homogeneous material comprising a biodegradable polymeric material and an oxygen-generating material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical mesh, wherein the surgical mesh has a flexible basic structure and comprises a plurality of pores, wherein the surgical mesh has a first face and a second opposite face, wherein the surgical mesh is made of a substantially homogeneous material comprising a biodegradable polymeric material and an oxygen-generating material. 
     
     
         2 . The surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymeric material comprises poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or polycaprolactone (PCL). 
     
     
         3 . The surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-generating material comprises calcium peroxide. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymeric material comprises polycaprolactone, wherein the oxygen-generating material comprises calcium peroxide. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical mesh of  claim 4 , wherein the polycaprolactone has a weight percentage of 85% to 98% of the total weight of the surgical mesh, wherein the calcium peroxide has a weight percentage of 2% to 15% of the total weight of the surgical mesh. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores have uniform size and shape to provide consistent oxygen releasing rate. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical mesh has a thickness of 100-500 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical mesh is biocompatible and has over 80% of cell survival rate in hypoxic condition. 
     
     
         9 . A method of preparing the surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 providing a biodegradable polymeric material and melting the biodegradable polymeric material;   providing an oxygen generating material and adding the oxygen generating material to the melted biodegradable polymeric to form a substantially homogenous melt mixture;   cooling the substantially homogenous melt mixture to provide a substantially homogenous solid mixture;   providing an amount of the substantially homogenous solid mixture and heating to an elevated temperature and then compression molding the substantially homogenous solid mixture to a sheet with a thickness of 100-500 μm; and   laser micromachining the sheet to generate a plurality of pores.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the biodegradable polymeric material comprises polycaprolactone, wherein the oxygen-generating material comprises calcium peroxide. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using the surgical mesh of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 providing the surgical mesh of  claim 1  to a patient during a surgery process;   applying the surgical mesh to a surgical site of the patient to provide structural support to the surgical site, to provide an oxygen source, and to control bacteria prefiltration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biodegradable polymeric material comprises polycaprolactone, wherein the oxygen-generating material comprises calcium peroxide.