Antimicrobial Nylon Sutures

Introduction

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. Since the presently available sutures does not have all these quality requirements together, an inherently atimicrobial and biocompatible drug delivery nylon suture has been developed. These sutures have wider application also.

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.

Special Features:

Inherently antimicrobial and biocompatible suture which enables to stop the growth of microbes right at the first step; Release of Iodine is initially slow and increase sharply and then levels-off for a longer duration, making the suture suitable for wider application; Does not cause side effects; Improved strength and elasticity as well as knot security; Easy handling and cost effective

Prospective Users:

All hospitals and Nursing homes involved in minor and major surgical operation

Keywords:

Sutures, Antimicrobial, Nylon, Biocompatible

Type of Technology:

Product

Status of IPR Protection:

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'

Status of Development:

The technology has been developed with the facilities available in IIT, Delhi on batch and continuous operations.

Major Equipment & Facilities required:

Extruder, Drawing unit, Reaction vessels, drier, etc. at a total estimated cost of 15 lakhs. appr

Requirement of Raw Materials/Components:

Polypropylene
Poly-N-vinyl-pyrrolidinone-iodine
Acetone

Services offered by Technology Transfer:

Know how manual including quality control procedures
Process demonstration
Consultancy services

For further information please contact :

The Director
Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Tel : 91-011-26597167, 26857762, 26581013
Fax : 91-011-26851169
E-mail : mdfitt@gmail.com