# Antigate Melt-Electrowritten Biodegradable Mesh Implants for Enhanced Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair
## 5 Conclusions  
This study investigates PCL biodegradable meshes as a potential solution for POP. It explores how incorporating the antistatic agent HT into PCL meshes influences their mechanical properties, fiber structure, and biocompatibility. HT incorporation not only leads to a significant reduction in fiber diameter but also enhances the meshes' structural integrity and stiffness when compared against PCL meshes with similar diameters. The cytotoxicity analysis shows that all PCL/HT meshes remain non-toxic and that the tested sterilization methods effectively sterilize the meshes. DSC tests indicate that HT maintains the polymer's thermal stability. Additionally, the broadened melting peaks observed at higher HT levels indicate varied crystallinity, leading to enhanced tensile strength and stiffness. These findings favor the applicability of PCL/HT meshes for POP repair, offering mechanical properties comparable to vaginal tissue while avoiding stress shielding and remaining non-toxic. However, further research is warranted to address specific limitations of this work. Antimicrobial activity was not evaluated, which is relevant for ensuring sterility in clinical applications. The range of HT tested concentrations was also limited, and the mechanical and cytotoxicity tests were conducted in simplified in vitro settings that do not fully mimic the complexity of the in vivo environment. Additionally, long-term degradation and biointegration studies should be performed in the future. Despite these limitations, the results demonstrate the practical potential of PCL/HT meshes in POP repair. The improved mechanical performance, thinner fibers, and confirmed biocompatibility make these meshes strong candidates for clinical translation. Further work should include Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and rheological analyses to better characterize structural changes and degradation, as well as in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm tissue integration and biological response. Furthermore, real-time analysis of deformation processes during mechanical testing and microstructural evaluation of fracture surfaces (e.g., via SEM) should be included in future studies to better understand local failure mechanisms, fiber slippage, and pore evolution under load. Future studies will incorporate uniaxial mechanical testing of PCL/HT meshes under hydrated conditions using a humidity chamber recently acquired for our testing system. This setup will allow testing in fluid media (e.g., PBS at 37 \({}^{\circ}\)C), enabling more accurate simulation of the in vivo vaginal environment and better comparison with native tissue behavior. Future research endeavors can also further explore the structural changes in PCL fibers with HT incorporation. SEM, rheological analysis, and XRD tests are also recommended to gain deeper insights into the material's behavior and performance. In vitro and in vivo studies should also be performed before real-world applicability to study PCL/HT bioactivity, its degradation mechanism, and its impact on tissue regeneration. Conceptualization, A.F. and E.S. ; Methodology, D.C., F.V., E.A., A.T.S., J.M., F.P., N.M.F., L.B.B., R.F.P., A.F. and E.S. ; Software, E.S. ; Investigation, F.V., E.A., A.T.S., J.M., N.M.F. and E.S. ; Data curation, F.V. ; Writing--original draft, D.C., R.F.P., E.S. and F.V. ; Writing--review & editing, D.C., R.F.P. and L.B.B. ; Visualization, N.M.F. and E.S. ; Supervision, A.F. and E.S. ; Project administration, A.F. and E.S. ; Funding acquisition, A.F. and E.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research was funded by Stimulus of Scientific Employment 2021.00077.CEECIND and project PRECOGFIL-PTDC/EMD-EMD/2229/2020, financed through FCT. This work was supported by FCT, through INEGI, under LAETA, projects UIDB/50022/2020 and UIDP/50022/2020. Not applicable. The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.