Characterization of tetracycline hydrochloride drug incorporated silk sutures

Abstract

In this work, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) has been applied onto silk sutures at three different concentrations and the effect of TCH concentrations on the characteristics of the silk sutures was studied. The result showed that TCH concentration in the selected range has no significant effect on frictional behavior, tenacity, and knot strength of silk sutures. In vitro drug release study showed that the amount of drug released from the silk sutures has a positive relation with the concentration of the drug. Antimicrobial test results showed that the TCH treated silk suture exhibits greater antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli than gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity increases with the concentration of the drug. At higher concentration of TCH, zones of inhibition of 32 and 25 mm were observed against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) study reveals the deposition of TCH onto the surface of silk sutures. Also, the adhesion of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria onto the surface of untreated silk sutures was confirmed by SEM. In conclusion, our results suggest that TCH containing silk suture does not generate more friction and less tenacity and knot strength than the untreated silk sutures. These characteristics combined with good drug release and antimicrobial characteristics suggest that TCH drug is suitable to improve the functional properties of suture materials.