Current manufacturing processes of drug-eluting sutures

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Drug-eluting sutures represent the next generation of surgical sutures since they fulfill their mechanical functions but also deliver the drug in their vicinity after implantation. These implants are produced by a variety of manufacturing processes. Drug-eluting sutures represent the next generation of surgical sutures since they fulfill their mechanical functions but also deliver the drug in their vicinity after implantation. These implants are produced by a variety of manufacturing processes. Two general approaches can be followed: (i) the ones that add the API into the material during the manufacturing process of the suture and (ii) the ones that load the API to an already manufactured suture.

Areas covered: This review provides an overview of the current manufacturing processes for drug-eluting suture production and discusses their benefits and drawbacks depending on the type of drugs. The mechanical properties and the drug delivery profile of drug-eluting sutures are highlighted since these implants must fulfill both criteria.

Expert opinion: For limited drug contents, melt extrusion and electrospinning are the emerging processes since the drug is added during the suture manufacture process. Advantageously, the drug release profile can be tuned by controlling the processing parameters specific to each process and the composition of the drug-containing polymer. If high drug content is targeted, the coating or grafting of a drug layer on a pre-manufactured suture allows for preservation of the tensile strength requirements of the suture.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug-eluting sutures
• polymer surgical suture
• coating
• dispersion
• production process
• wound closure

Article highlights

• Drug either incorporated during the suture manufacturing or post-added to a manufactured suture

• Different architectures exist: the drug is at the surface of the suture or embedded into the bulk

• The drug release profile is controlled by tuning the parameters of the process and/or the composition of the matrix

• A good compromise between the desired drug release profile and suited mechanical properties must be found

• Processes that do not require subsequent step of purification should be preferred

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgment

CERM is much indebted to IAP VII-05 ‘Functional Supramolecular Systems’ (FS2).

Declaration of interest

J-M Thomassin is Logistic Collaborator by the FRS-FNRS. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the ‘Conseil Régional Aquitaine’ through the international doctoral school program. ‘IDS-FunMat’ supported by the European Community (ERASMUS MUNDUS Doctoral program).