Objective To prepare a new sirolimus drug-coated polypropylene (SRL-PP) mesh by grafting he sirolimus onto the surface of the polypropylene (PP) mesh via chemical reaction, and to apply the new mesh to animal experiment to explore its anti-adhesion properties.MethodsThe sirolimus was grafted onto the surface of the mesh by chemical reaction to prepare the SRL-PP mesh, which was compared with the PP mesh and the polyethylene glycol modified polypropylene (PEG-PP) mesh. The three groups of meshes were respectively characterized (infrared spectroscopy test, contact angle measurement), and their tensile property was measured. These meshes were implanted into the abdominal cavity of the rats respectively. The anti-adhesion properties of the new sirolimus drug-coated mesh was studied by intraperitoneal adhesion and histopathological change in rats.ResultsThe results of infrared spectrum analysis showed that there was a new absorption peak at the wavelength 1 643 cm–1 (amide group) of SRL-PP mesh, suggesting that sirolimus drug was successfully uploaded onto the surface of the mesh; the SRL-PP mesh was excellent in hydrophilicity, which provided a favorable condition for the growth of peritoneal mesothelial cells. There was no significant difference in mechanical properties between SRL-PP mesh and PP mesh or PEG-PP mesh, which provided a good mechanical guarantee for clinical application. The degree of abdominal adhesion in SRL-PP mesh group (1.00±0.58) was significantly lower than that in PP mesh group (5.17±0.69) and PEG-PP mesh group (4.00±0.58), and the tD value between SRL-PP mesh group and PP mesh group was 2.76 (P<0.05). The number of inflammatory cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the adhesion tissue in SRL-PP mesh group were significantly lower than those in PP mesh group and PEG-PP mesh group.ConclusionsThe sirolimus is successfully loaded onto the surface in the PP mesh by chemical reaction. Animal experiment shows that the sirolimus drug-coated mesh can significantly reduce the abdominal adhesion of the rats, which provides a basis for clinical trial and application.