Biopolymer fiber as a bioabsorbable monofilament suture

可吸收单股缝线将由称为聚-4-羟基丁酸酯（P4 HB）的生物材料制备。P4 HB将使用基于一类天然聚酯（称为PHA（或聚羟基链烷酸酯））的基因工程发酵系统获得。该发酵系统非常适合生产P4 HB基聚合物。新缝线将通过熔融挤出制备，预计具有比现有单股缝线更好的处理性能，并且强度保持时间更长。预期后者允许将单股可吸收缝线用于之前需要使用不可吸收缝线进行长期伤口支撑的患者，用于患有影响伤口愈合的疾病的患者，例如恶性肿瘤、免疫系统受损、肥胖、营养障碍和糖尿病。 它也可以用于骨科患者的治疗和筋膜闭合。本研究的具体目的是：（1）生产生物材料P4 HB，（2）制备P4 HB缝线/纤维，（3）表征P4 HB缝线，以及（40）确定缝线在体内的断裂强度保留率以及组织反应和吸收率。拟议的商业应用：这项研究将提供一种新的单丝纤维，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.