Preparation of antimicrobial sutures by preirradiation grafting onto polypropylene monofilament

Antimicrobial sutures were prepared by the radiation grafting of acrylonitrile monomer onto polypropylene (PP) monofilament. The grafted sutures were subsequently hydrolyzed to transform nitrile groups into carboxylic groups for the immobilization of antimicrobial drug, tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The modified sutures show continuous release of drug for a period of 4-5 days. The antimicrobial activity of the sutures was determined against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by the zone of inhibition technique. Zone of inhibition was observed around the drug-containing sutures in the plate inoculated with Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumonea (K. pneumonea), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The results of infection studies in albino rats against S. aureus showed no infection even after fourth postoperative day of surgery. This is because of the release of the TC drug at the site of injury, which inhibits the bacterial growth. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.