Biotextiles as medical implants: 11. Materials for absorbable and nonabsorbable surgical sutures (Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles)

Catgut and collagen are the two most well-known natural materials for absorbable sutures; however collagen-based absorbable sutures have largely been replaced by synthetic materials made from one of five basic building blocks. The chemical structures of a variety of commercial absorbable sutures are reviewed. The characteristics, chemistry and manufacture of some nonabsorbable equivalents are also considered. A number of newly available materials, in particular the group of amino-acid based biodegradable poly(ester amide) fibers, are considered, together with the results of trials.