Antibacterial Efficacy of Oregano-Carbon Nanotubes Coated Silk Sutures: An In Vitro Experimental Study

Microbial infections following surgery or other medical procedures are a major health issue. To avoid or reduce the risk of infections, research is now concentrated on creating novel drug-free materials with antibacterial qualities. Sutures coated with antimicrobial agents are one way to prevent surgical site infections.

To develop and characterize an oregano-carbon nanotubes/polycaprolactone (PCL)-chitosan composite coating and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of sutures coated with this formulation.

The dipping solution was prepared, and characterization was performed using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope. Antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus was evaluated after 1, 3 and 5 days using the colony-forming unit (CFU).

Oregano-carbon nanotubes/PCL-chitosan composite coated sutures showed higher antibacterial activity compared to uncoated ones at all tested time intervals.

Oregano-carbon nanotubes/PCL-chitosan composite could be a promising candidate as a natural-derived suture coating to guard against surgical site infection.

This study highlights the potential use of oregano-carbon nanotubes/PCL-chitosan composite as a suture coating.