Hydrogel membranes can offer a cutting-edge solution for abdominal hernia treatment.
By combining favorable mechanical parameters, tissue integration, and the potential
for targeted drug delivery, hydrogels are a promising alternative therapeutic option.
The current review examines the application of hydrogel materials composed of synthetic
and biological polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA),
gelatine, and silk fibroin, in the context of hernia repair. Overall, this review
highlights the current issues and prospects of hydrogel membranes as viable alternatives
to the conventional hernia meshes. The emphasis is placed on the applicability of
these hydrogels as components of bilayer systems and standalone materials. According
to our research, hydrogel membranes exhibit several advantageous features relevant
to hernia repair, such as a controlled inflammatory reaction, tissue integration,
anti-adhesive-, and even thermoresponsive properties. Nevertheless, despite significant
advancements in material science, the potential of hydrogel membranes seems neglected.
Bilayer constructs have not transitioned to clinical trials, whereas standalone membranes
seem unreliable due to the lack of comprehensive mechanical characterization and long-term
in vivo experiments.
