The influence of degradation in different pH buffer solutions on the optical and durability properties of Monocryl suture: (an in vitro study)

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work is to investigate the hydrolytic degradation of the Monocryl (PGA/PCL) surgical suture in different pH buffer solutions, and its correlation with the structural alterations the material undergoes. To this end, an in vitro degradation study was conducted under acidic (pH = 2), physiological (pH = 7.4), and alkaline (pH = 8.5) conditions at 37 °C, over 25 days. Changes in the swelling rate, structural and mechanical properties of the Monocryl sample with the degradation time were characterized, from which the related degradation mechanism of the material was concluded. Results showed that the structural values of the Monocryl sample were more sensitive in the alkaline medium than the acidic and neutral ones. It exhibited a reduction in birefringence values by 11.5% from the original one in the buffer solution of pH = 8.5, only 4% at pH = 2, and 2.6% at pH = 7.4, after 20 days of degradation durations. Over the same time period, mechanical loss in neutral, acidic, and alkaline media was decreased to 19, 14.9, and 8.3%, respectively. The obtained results revealed that the Monocryl suture exhibits enhanced degradation properties in neutral conditions rather than both acidic and alkaline ones, with a more homogeneous degradation behavior during the degradation process. Graphical abstract