Development of Functional Sutures through Electrospinning

A novel kind of functional sutures was developed by combining electrospinning with a braiding technique. After post treatments, the electrospun PLLA nanofiber threads which were collected uniaxially were made into a more compact braided wire. Chitosan was used as a coating agent to make the braided wire surface smoothened and functionalized. Morphology and mechanical properties of the PLLA sutures with and without chitosan were studied, blood compatibility and hemostatic behavior were investigated, and biocompatibility was also performed on the chitosan coated sutures. Results showed that nanofibers collected by a high speed rotating disc displayed a preferably uniaixal orientation. There were no differences in tensile performances between the PLLA sutures with and without chitosan coating, but the sutures with chitosan coating showed better blood compatibility and no effect on cellular morphology and proliferation was recognized. The sutures were implanted into SD rats and exhibited favorable tissue compatibility.