Absorbable sutures poly

Copolymers of S-caprolactone and L-lactide are elastomeric when prepared from 25% S-caprolactone and 75% L-lactide, and rigid when prepared from 10% S-caprolactone and 90% L-lactide (47). Blends of poly-DL-lactide and polycaprolactone polymers are another way to achieve unique elastomeric properties. Copolymers of S-caprolactone and glycoHde have been evaluated in fiber form as potential absorbable sutures. Strong, flexible monofilaments have been produced which maintain 11—37% of initial tensile strength after two weeks in vivo (48). 

Chu CC. The effect of pH on the in vitro degradation of poly (glycolide lactide) copolymer absorbable sutures. / Biomed Mater Res 1982 16 117-124. 

The first synthetic absorbable suture that reached commercial production is Dexon, manufactured by American Cyanamid Co. It is poly(glycolic acid) prepared by the polymerization of glycolide (14). Another absorbable... 

The first synthetic absorbable suture was made from a homopolymer of glycolic acid by Davis Geek Co. and manufactured with the tradename Dexon (1970). This suture was followed by a second material produced by Ethicon, Inc., in 1974, a copolymer of lactide and glycolide known as poly-glactine 910 or Vicryl. Both Vicryl and Dexon are made from polymer fibers, which are braided to produce sutures. In addition. Vicryl is Teflon coated for... 

Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) is the simplest linear aliphatic polyester. Both PGA and the copol)oner polyCglycolic acid - co - lactic acid) (PGA/PL) are used as degradable and absorbable sutures. 

Owing to its hydrolytic instability, initially, its use was limited. Currently, polyglycolide and its copolymers poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with lactic acid, poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) with e-caprolactone, and poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) with trimethylene carbonate) are widely used to develop synthetic absorbable sutures that were marketed under the trade name of Dexon and are now sold as Surgicryl [61],... 

Uses Colorant in external cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, sun tan oils colorant for absorbable sutures, polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens haptics, absorbable meniscal tacks made from poly (L-lactic acid)... 

Sutures remain the most common method of tpproximating the divided edges of tissue (1). Sutures are categorised by size, material, design and behaviour. Absorbable and nonabsorbable materials are further divided into synthetic versus natural products, some of vdiich can be fabricated in braided and/or monofilament form. Non-absorbable sutures have played an important role in the development of surgical procedures, generally made of silk, polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene and poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (2). 

Polymers in the group of polyesters, specifically the family of polyflactic acid) (PLA), polyfglycolic acid) (PGA), and copolymers of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGAs), as well as poly(P-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) most closely fulfilled the criteria outlined above, including biocompatibility, processability, and controlled degradation [8]. These polymers, many descendant of absorbable suture materials developed a couple of decades ago, were approved for in vivo use by the Food... 

The latest addition to the synthetic absorbable suture materials is TephaFLEX which is thermally melt-spun from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, a member of the class of absorbable biomaterials known as polydroxyal-kanoates, or PHA (FDA, 2007 Martin and Williams, 2003). Studies have shown that TephaFLEX is both biocompatible and noninflammatory. Their biodegradation occurs through normal processes and the products of the breakdown are metabolites that already exist in the body. 

Poly (L-lactide-co-e-caprolactone)-based absorbable sutures... 

All those commercial synthetic absorbable sutures fabricated from the gly-colide, lactide, e-caprolactone, p-dioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate building blocks can only be degraded via pure hydrolysis. Although it has been suggested that enzymes are involved, the issue is remains unresolved and controversial. There were no truly enzymatically biodegradable synthetic absorbable fibers on the market until the reported studies of amino add-based poly(ester amide)s (AA-PEA). 

Scanning electron images of some commercial absorbable sutures (a) Chromic catgut polyglycolic acid family (b) Dexon poly(glycolide/L-lactide) copolymer or polyglactin 910 family ... 

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