Bioactive Polylactide Fibrous Materials Prepared by Crazing Mechanism

Bioactive suture materials made of biodegradable polymers containing biologically active substances are increasingly demanded in contemporary surgical practice. Herein, the functional fibrous materials are produced by structural modification of polylactide (PLA) fibers according to the crazing mechanism in water-ethanol solutions. The threshold of ethanol concentration, at which the breaking elongation of the polymer substantially increases (up to 600-700%), is found to be 30 wt%. The crazing mechanism is employed to fill the porous structure of PLA fibers by different antiseptic substances (brilliant green, iodine, and fuchsin). PLA loaded by 0.8 wt% of brilliant green exhibits antimicrobial activity onEscherichia coliandCandida guilliermondii. The additive is released stepwise for a prolongated time period (2.5 months). The addition of 1-6 wt% iodine dramatically accelerates the polymer degradation in sodium-phosphate buffer solution at 37 degrees C. The obtained filled fibers may possess great interest for producing suture materials with prolonged action of functional components and variable degradation times.