Microstructural and Tribological Properties of a Dopamine Hydrochloride and Graphene Oxide Coating Applied to Multifilament Surgical Sutures

Abstract

With the development of fine surgery and desire for low-injury methods, the frictional properties of surgical sutures are one of the crucial factors that can cause damage to tissue, especially for some fragile and sensitive human tissues such as the eyeball. In this study, dopamine hydrochloride and graphene oxide were used as external application agents to prepare a biological coating for the surface of multifilament surgical sutures. The effects of this biocoating on the surface morphology, chemical properties, mechanical properties, and tribological properties of surgical sutures were studied. The friction force and the coefficient of friction of surgical sutures penetrating through a skin substitute were evaluated using a penetration friction apparatus and a linear elastic model. The tribological mechanism of the coating on the multifilament surgical sutures was investigated according to the results of the tribological test. The results showed that there were uniform dopamine and graphene oxide films on the surface of the surgical sutures, and that the fracture strength and yield stress of the coated sutures both increased. The surface wettability of the surgical sutures was improved after the coating treatment. The friction force and the coefficient of friction of the multifilament surgical sutures with the dopamine hydrochloride and graphene oxide coating changed little compared to those of the untreated multifilament surgical sutures.

Silver and Antimicrobial Polymer Nanocomplexes to Enhance Biocidal Effects

“…Another interesting molecule presenting antimicrobial properties is dopamine hydrochloride (DA), which is an endogenous biomolecule in the catecholamine and phenylamine families used to correct hemodynamic disorders associated with shock episodes [37,38]. DA is also a biomaterial that can be deposited onto various material surfaces, improving their cohesiveness and functionalization, since it contains catechol and amino molecules that can self-polymerize and form polydopamine (polyDA) [39,40]. PolyDA presents unique features, such as strong adhesive properties on all kinds of surfaces, rich chemical functionalities, and biocompatibility suited for biological applications [40][41][42][43].…”

Enriched Graphene Oxide-Polypropylene Suture Threads Buttons Modulate the Inflammatory Pathway Induced by Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide

“…The innumerable properties of the GO make its association with various biomaterials an interesting approach in the tissue engineering field. To date, different materials, including many types of suture threads, such as polyglycolic acid (PGA) multifilament surgical and chitin monofilament absorbable surgical sutures, have been functionalized with GO to improve the suture surface wettability and its tensile strength [ 28 , 29 ]. Among the materials used in the production of sutures, polypropylene (PP) is one of the most commonly used.…”

Drug-Eluting Sutures by Hot-Melt Extrusion: Current Trends and Future Potentials

“…Coefficient of friction: This parameter describes how easily a suture thread passes through tissue during suturing [76,98]. Frictional properties of surgical sutures are important factors for consideration during suture production and utilisation because improper frictional properties of a suture can potentially cause damage to the tissue [99]. Indeed, elevated friction force in the suturing process may cause inflammation and pain to the patient, leading to a longer healing time and the secondary trauma of soft and/or fragile tissues [100].…”

“…To measure the coefficient of friction, artificial skin is fixed in the gripper mount on the texture analyser connected to a force-measuring sensor. The tip of a surgical suture is left free, and the other suture end penetrates the skin using needle and is fixed onto the force-measuring sensor [99]. Chen and colleagues studied the suture-to-tissue friction force and suture-to-suture friction force using XF-1A surgical suture friction tester by measuring the static and dynamic resistance [8,101].…”