Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose-Satureja hortensis L. ethanol extract mixtures as antimicrobial coating for sutures, identification of phenolic acids by using LC-MS-MS and TLC techniques

Fabrication of a Biocompatible Nanoantimicrobial Suture for Rapid Wound Healing after Surgery

Suture-associated infections on surgical sites are known to be related to the surface characteristics of the sutures. The present study aimed to fabricate a novel functional suture for surgical procedures and characterize its antioxidative, antimicrobial, and in vitro wound healing properties. St John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, extract (eHp), and biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been combined and used for coating the silk sutures. Antioxidant, antimicrobial capacity, and in vitro wound healing potential of the coated sutures have been examined. The morphological and microanalytical examination of the coated sutures was also performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). According to the antioxidant activity tests, free radical scavenging and β-carotene linoleic acid tests revealed that the antioxidative potential of H. perforatum extract-AgNP combination (eHp-AgNP) at 10 mg/mL concentration was higher than those of positive controls, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol. Coating the sutures with eHp-AgNP resulted in a remarkable inhibition activity of the sutures against Staphylococcus aureus, which is a pathogenic member of human microbiota. When compared with the control groups, it was investigated that coating the sutures with eHp-AgNP stimulated the cell migration of the fibroblasts to heal the artificial wound. Due to their beneficial effects, the eHp-AgNP-coated silk sutures might be a potential antibacterial and wound healing accelerator for surgical approaches.

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.

Novel Plant-Based Metabolites as Disinfectants against Acanthamoeba castellanii

Due to global warming, coupled with global water shortages and the reliance of the public on household water tanks, especially in developing countries, it is anticipated that infections caused by free-living amoebae such as Acanthamoeba will rise. Thus, the development of novel disinfectant(s) which can target pathogenic free-living amoebae effectively is warranted. Herein, we extracted and isolated several plant-based secondary metabolites as novel disinfectants for use against pathogenic Acanthamoeba. The identity of the compounds was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance and tested for antiamoebic activities against clinical isolate of A. castellanii, belonging to the T4 genotype. Amoebicidal assays revealed that the compounds tested showed antiamoebic properties. Betulinic acid and betulin exhibited parasite killing of more than 65%. When tested against the cyst stage, betulinic acid, betulin, and vanillic acid inhibited both encystation and excystation processes. Furthermore, the plant-based metabolites significantly inhibited the binding capability of A. castellanii to host cells. Finally, most of the tested compounds displayed minimal cytotoxic activities against human cells and noticeably perturbed amoeba-mediated host cell cytotoxicity. Notably, both alkaloid and betulinic acid showed 20% cytotoxic effects, whereas betulin and lupeol had cytotoxic effects of 24% and 30%, respectively. Overall, our findings indicate that plant-based natural compounds demonstrate anti-Acanthamoebic properties, and they have potential candidates for water disinfectants or contact lens disinfecting solutions, as well as possible therapeutic drugs against Acanthamoeba infections.