title: Bioactive Sutures: A Review of Advances in Surgical Suture Functionalisation.
abstract: Sutures have been at the forefront of surgical medicine throughout time. With recent advances in suture technology, it is possible to incorporate biologically active substances to enhance suture function and capability. Bioactive sutures represent a modality interest in controlled drug and cell delivery to traumatic sites. In this article, a comprehensive literature search of key bibliographic databases focusing on suture material fabrication and advanced modification was performed. The history, manufacturing process and cost-effectiveness of bioactive sutures are presented. Several novel modifications to enhance function in drug and growth factor delivery and cell therapy are also reviewed. Different antimicrobial drugs and anaesthetics have been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation and bacterial infection. Cellular therapy represents a unique modality augmenting the surgical repair of various soft tissue injuries. We propose a definition of bio-active sutures as biomaterials that are engineered to have controlled tissue interaction to optimise wound/defect healing, in addition to their essential function in tissue approximation.
authors.forename: Feras
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alshomer
authors.forename: Arul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pathan
authors.affiliation: UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London, NW3 2PF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Surgery; activation; bio-functionalization; biomaterial; sutures; wounds