In vitro study on biodegradation of absorbable suture materials used for surgical applications

Abstract

The presented experimental research aims to compare the degradation degree of five different types of surgical sutures used in clinical practice and to discuss the influence of local pH on the degradation of a suture material. The surgical sutures were tested in terms of stability and hydrolytic biodegradation in Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) solution varying the pH and the immersion time of the samples in the liquid medium. The surface properties, structural characteristics and the effects of hydrolytic biodegradation on the mechanical properties were studied using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Degradation degree and Tensile Strength tests, respectively.