Out-licensing

Improved Antimicrobial Nylon Sutures

Introduction/Background

Surgical sutures, particularly of non-absorbable type shall possess good biocompatible and antimicrobial properties. These are made of either natural or synthetic material. From the end usage requirement, the base material should have better strength and elasticity, ease for handling as well as more affinity to the coating material. Further, the delivery of antimicrobial agent shall be slow initially and sustained for longer duration for improving the healing process by eliminating the danger of infection and inflammation.

Aims/Hypothesis

Since the presently available sutures do not have all these quality requirements together, an inherently antimicrobial and biocompatible drug delivery nylon suture is required.

Research

Saturated solution of poly-N-vinyl-pyrrolidinone-iodine complex is prepared in a low boiling solvent. Nylon chips are reacted with this solution for obtaining homogeneous coating of the solution on the chips. The chips are subsequently dried and subjected to spinning to draw a filament, preferably a mano-filament. Drawing multi-filaments is avoided since they are prone to transmission of bacteria through the hidden areas in such filaments. To enhance the strength of the filament, it is drawn at the prescribed temperature with a particular force. The suture prepared as per the above procedure, have polar bonding between nylon and poly-N-vinyl-pyrrolidinone-iodine complex, which results in the slow and controlled release of iodine from the sutures. Also they have demonstrated inherent microbial properties in addition to being biocompatible.

Conclusion

We have developed an antimicrobial and biocompatible suture which enables to stop the growth of microbes at the first step.

Relevance/Opportunity

Please enquire regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships.

Registered

Indian Patent Application No. 3032/DEL/98 dated 13.10.1999 having title ' A Method for preparation of Improved Antimicrobial Nylon Sutures and Products thereof'