Smart suture with iodine contrasting nanoparticles for computed tomography
Shadi Houshyar,
Hong Yin,
Leon Pope,
Rumbidzai Zizhou,
Chaitali Dekiwadia,
Elisa L. Hill-Yardin,
Justin MC Yeung,
Sabu John,
Kate Fox,
Nhiem Tran,
Ivan Cole,
Aaron Elbourne,
Vi Khanh Truong,
Adam Truskewycz
Affiliations
Shadi Houshyar
School of Engineering, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia; Corresponding authors.
Hong Yin
School of Engineering, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Leon Pope
School of Engineering, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Rumbidzai Zizhou
Center for Materials Innovation and Future Fashion (CMIFF), School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Australia
Chaitali Dekiwadia
RMIT Microscopy & Microanalysis Facility, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Elisa L. Hill-Yardin
School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
Justin MC Yeung
Department of Surgery, Western Health, Western Precinct, University of Melbourne, Australia
Sabu John
School of Engineering, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Kate Fox
School of Engineering, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Nhiem Tran
College of Science, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Ivan Cole
School of Engineering, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Aaron Elbourne
College of Science, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Vi Khanh Truong
College of Science, STEM college, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3000, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
Adam Truskewycz
Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Corresponding authors.
Surgical site infections (SSI) are amongst the most common medical infections, occurring in 2 to 4% of patients undergoing a surgical procedure. Smart surgical sutures can play an important role in preventing infection. For example, antimicrobial sutures detectable via clinical imaging modalities can support monitoring wounds post-surgery and enhance patient recovery. However, no commercial suture products possess these properties. Herein, contrasting iodine carbon nanoparticles (ICPs) are synthesized using a solvothermal approach. These ICPs were incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) via a coaxial extrusion technique inspired by the ''core-shell'' multilayered suture structure, which integrates multiple clinically favourable functions into one suture device. This system exhibits high imaging contrast capabilities for real-time imaging even after 22 days in-vitro, with strong antimicrobial properties and a reduction in biofilm formation. The multifunctional and biocompatible suture composite developed in this study shows strong antimicrobial properties and can act as an immobilized marker to monitor the surgical site during and after surgical procedures. Identifying suture integrity and location within the body through minimally invasive methods can alleviate patient discomfort and minimize the risk of infection.
