Preparation of Absorbable Suture Biomaterial Formed by Glycolide/Lactide and Its Application in the Congenital Thumb Deformity Surgery

Abstract

Conducting polymers (CPs) can regulate cell behavior and promote the regeneration of damaged tissues, which are widely applied in tissue engineering. In this study, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PHTP) was first obtained by the catalyst + transfer poly-condensation method, and then, it was mixed with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) to obtain a composite material with superconductivity (PHTP/PLGA). Besides, ferric chloride (FeCl3) was selected as the dopant, and the doping time was changed, so as to obtain 5 PHTP/PLGA materials with different conductivity (10-7 S/cm, 10-6 S/cm, 10-5 S/cm, 10-4 S/cm, and 10-3 S/cm). While PHTP/PLGA was physically characterized, the cell proliferation ability and blood compatibility of this series of materials were further analyzed, and the materials were made into medical sutures for the treatment of congenital thumb deformities. In the experiment, the surface morphology, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity of materials with different conductivity would not affect the difference in cell behavior. Using mouse embryonic osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) as the research objects, increasing PHTP/PLGA conductivity could promote MC3T3-E1 alkaline phosphatase activity cell mineralization, and collagen type I expression. PHTP/PLGA series materials had a low hemolysis rate and were not easily affected by platelet adhesion and activation, meaning that they would not cause coagulation. The material was applied in the direct suture method of hammer deformity, and the results showed that the patient’s deformed thumb had a knot reaction and local skin edge necrosis. After dressing change, it gradually improved. Moreover, the excellent and good rate of deformed thumb based on this material was higher than that of wire extraction method and Kirschner wire fixation method (P < 0.05).