Formation of Polyesters by Thermally Induced Polymerization Reactions of Molecular Solids

Advances, challenges, and prospects for surgical suture materials

As one of the long-established and necessary medical devices, surgical sutures play an essentially important role in the closing and healing of damaged tissues and organs postoperatively. The recent advances in multiple disciplines, like materials science, engineering technology, and biomedicine, have facilitated the generation of various innovative surgical sutures with humanization and multi-functionalization. For instance, the application of numerous absorbable materials is assuredly a marvelous progression in terms of surgical sutures. Moreover, some fantastic results from recent laboratory research cannot be ignored either, ranging from the fiber generation to the suture structure, as well as the suture modification, functionalization, and even intellectualization. In this review, the suture materials, including natural or synthetic polymers, absorbable or non-absorbable polymers, and metal materials, were first introduced, and then their advantages and disadvantages were summarized. Then we introduced and discussed various fiber fabrication strategies for the production of surgical sutures. Noticeably, advanced nanofiber generation strategies were highlighted. This review further summarized a wide and diverse variety of suture structures and further discussed their different features. After that, we covered the advanced design and development of surgical sutures with multiple functionalizations, which mainly included surface coating technologies and direct drug-loading technologies. Meanwhile, the review highlighted some smart and intelligent sutures that can monitor the wound status in a real-time manner and provide on-demand therapies accordingly. Furthermore, some representative commercial sutures were also introduced and summarized. At the end of this review, we discussed the challenges and future prospects in the field of surgical sutures in depth. This review aims to provide a meaningful reference and guidance for the future design and fabrication of innovative surgical sutures. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This review article introduces the recent advances of surgical sutures, including material selection, fiber morphology, suture structure and construction, as well as suture modification, functionalization, and even intellectualization. Importantly, some innovative strategies for the construction of multifunctional sutures with predetermined biological properties are highlighted. Moreover, some important commercial suture products are systematically summarized and compared. This review also discusses the challenges and future prospects of advanced sutures in a deep manner. In all, this review is expected to arouse great interest from a broad group of readers in the fields of multifunctional biomaterials and regenerative medicine.

A facile synthesis of dispersable NaCl nanocrystals

During the classical malonic ester synthesis, sodium chloride is eliminated. Sodium diethyl malonate was reacted either with phenacyl chloride or acetyl chloride, both in toluene solution and without solvent. NaCl nanocrystals with a size of 100-300 nm were obtained that could be easily redispersed in organic solvents if phenacyl chloride was used as reagent. The dispersion in dichloromethane was stable for at least two weeks without sedimentation or agglomeration.

Controlled Release of Goserelin from Microporous Polyglycolide and Polylactide

Two microporous biodegradable polyesters, i.e., PGA and PDLLA, were obtained by solid-state polymerization reaction from the sodium salts of the corresponding alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids after washing out the by-product sodium chloride. The polymers were shaped by cold uniaxial pressing, by hot uniaxial pressing, and by extrusion at elevated temperature. Due to the special microporosity of the polymers, the introduction of drugs is possible at moderate temperature. The release kinetics of the model drug Phe and of the anti-tumor drug goserelin (an LH-RH agonist) from compacted polymer samples were fast (approx. 2 d). The release kinetics of goserelin were corrected for the decomposition of the drug. External coatings with PDLLA or PLLA obtained by immersion in polymer solution strongly slowed down the release kinetics in the case of the PDLLA coating, giving an almost linear release during 100 d. A coating with PLLA was unsuitable to slow down the release kinetics.