FUNCTIONALISATION OF BIODEGRADABLE AND BIOABSORBABLE SUTURE MATERIAL TO ENHANCE CONDITIONS FOR TENDON HEALING AND REGENERATION

Abstract

THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONALISED ABSORBABLE SUTURE MATERIAL WITH BIOLOGIC FACTORS THUS PROVIDES AN ELEGANT STRATEGY TO TENDON REPAIRS THAT COULD SOLVE SURGICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PROLONGED IMMOBILIZATION (TENDON AVULSIONS) AND GAP FORMATION (INTRA-SUBSTANCE TEARS). THE LOCALIZED INTRODUCTION OF GROWTH FACTORS TO THE WOUND SITE AT A CONSTANT THERAPEUTIC RATE WOULD NOT ONLY ACCELERATE HEALING BUT MAY ALSO PROMOTE REGENERATION OF NATIVE TISSUE.

THIS STUDY SHOWS THE SUCCESSFUL FUNCTIONALISATION OF INERT BIODEGRADABLE SUTURE MATERIAL BY COVALENTLY IMMOBILISING SUITABLE GROWTH FACTOR, GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR 7 (GDF7), ONTO SUTURE MATERIAL IN A WAY THAT RETAINS THE DESIRED FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES WITHOUT CONFERRING CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS. EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE COMPOSITE SUTURE, BEFORE AND AFTER FUNCTIONALISATION, ON MAINTAINING BIOMECHANICAL INTEGRITY, IMPROVING STEM CELL ADHESION, PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION INTO THE TENOCYTIC LINEAGE WAS ALSO CARRIED OUT.

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