Biopolymer fiber as a bioabsorbable monofilament suture

可吸收的单丝缝合线将由聚4-羟基丁酸酯（P4HB）生物材料制备。P4HB将使用一种基于一类天然聚酯的基因工程发酵系统，称为pha（或聚羟基烷酸酯）。这种发酵系统非常适合生产基于P4HB的聚合物。新的缝线将通过熔融挤压制备，预计比现有的单丝缝线具有更好的处理性能，并且保持强度的时间更长。后者有望允许单丝可吸收缝线用于先前需要长期伤口支持的不可吸收缝线的患者，这些患者的情况不利于伤口愈合，如恶性肿瘤、免疫系统受损、肥胖、营养损害和糖尿病。它也可用于骨科患者的治疗和筋膜闭合。本研究的具体目的是：(1)制备生物材料P4HB，(2)制备P4HB缝合线/纤维，(3)对P4HB缝合线进行表征，（40）测定缝合线在体内的断裂强度、断裂保留以及组织反应和吸收率。拟议的商业应用：该研究将提供一种新的单丝纤维，将用于开发生物可吸收的医疗产品，如缝合线、组织工程支架、手术网和织物。

An absorbable monofilament suture will be prepared from a biomaterial known as poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB). The P4HB will be derived using a genetically engineered fermentation system that is based on a class of natural polyesters, known as PHAs (or polyhydroxyalkanoates). This fermentation system is ideally suited for the production of P4HB based polymers. The new suture will be prepared by melt extrusion and is anticipated to have better handling properties than the existing monofilament sutures, and a longer retention of strength. The latter is expected to allow the use of a monofilament absorbable suture for patients previous requiring long-term wound support with a non- absorbable suture for patients with conditions that compromise wound healing, such as malignancy, compromised immune system, obesity, nutritional impairment, and diabetes. It may also be useful in the treatment of orthopedic patients and for fascia closure. The specific aims of this research are to: (1) produce the biomaterial P4HB, (2) prepare sutures/fibers of P4HB, (3) characterize the P4HB sutures, and (40 determine the break the break strength retention of the sutures in vivo as well as tissue reaction and the absorption rate. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The research will provide a new monofilament fiber that will be used in the development of bioabsorbable, medical products, such as sutures, tissue engineering scaffolds, surgical meshes and fabrics.