EXTRACTION OF BIODEGRADABLE SURGICAL THREADS BASED ON POLYLACTIDE

Abstract

Conventional surgical sutures should be removed after wound healing, because they cause additional pain and discomfort for the patients. Polylactide (PLA) is an aliphatic polyester derived from the renewable resources, which is biocompatible and biodegradable; however, its relatively high stiffness can limit its surgical applications. This study has the purpose to develop biodegradable surgical sutures based, on PLA and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and to investigate their physicochemical, mechanical, and biodegradation properties. To reduce PLA stiffness, PLA has been blended with PVA to form composite fibers. The fibers have been prepared from the polymer blends, using ultrasonic treatment to improve mixing. The blend homogeneity has been assessed, using UV–Vis spectroscopy, chemical structure has been characterized by the IR spectroscopy, and surface morphology has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM has revealed changes in the surface morphology and gradual degradation of the fibers over a 16- week period, which has also been supported by the mass-loss measurements in soil. The mechanical properties have been determined according to ASTM D2256. AN incorporation of PVA has increased fiber extensibility and elasticity, and the PLA–PVA composition (20:80 wt.%) has shown the most favorable mechanical performance among the tested formulations. Overall, the results suggest that the PLA–PVA composite fibers are promising candidates for absorbable surgical suture materials.