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Pressure-Spun Fibrous Surgical Sutures for Localized Antibacterial Delivery: Development, Characterization, and In
Esra Altun1, Cem Bayram2, Merve Gultekinoglu2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London (UCL), Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, U.K.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 20, 2023
Summary
New fibrous surgical sutures blend antibacterial triclosan with PLGA and PEO polymers. These sutures show sustained drug release and degradation within 21 days, offering a promising alternative for infection prevention.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a growing concern due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
- Traditional antibiotic treatments face limitations, necessitating alternative antimicrobial strategies.
- Developing novel materials for medical devices is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel fibrous surgical sutures with integrated localized antibacterial properties.
- To investigate a new pressure spinning manufacturing process for creating these functional sutures.
- To evaluate the performance of these sutures against commercially available options.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pressure spinning to create fibrous sutures by blending triclosan (Tri) with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO).
- Produced sutures with varying ratios of PLGA-PEO and triclosan loading for optimization.
- Conducted in vitro testing for biodegradation, antibacterial activity, drug release kinetics, and cytotoxicity.
Main Results:
- Sutures with 285 ± 12 μg/mg triclosan loading demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against tested strains within 24 hours.
- An initial burst release of triclosan was observed within 24 hours, followed by sustained release.
- Complete suture degradation occurred within 21 days, with no observed cytotoxic effects on mammalian cells.
Conclusions:
- The developed pressure-spun fibrous sutures effectively deliver antibacterial agents, showing promise for preventing surgical site infections.
- The sustained drug release and biocompatibility profile make these sutures a viable alternative to conventional methods.
- This novel manufacturing approach offers a new pathway for creating advanced, infection-preventing surgical materials.
