To Study the Drug Release of Tranexamic Acid and Dexamethasone Coated Suture Materials: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Background: Postoperative complications such as inflammation and bleeding often compromise wound healing and delay patient recovery. Drug-eluting sutures have recently emerged as an innovative strategy for localized therapy, functioning both as wound closure devices and controlled drug delivery systems.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro release kinetics of tranexamic acid (TXA) and dexamethasone (DEX) from polycaprolactone (PCL)-coated silk sutures.

Materials and Methods: Silk sutures were coated with PCL incorporating TXA and DEX. In vitro drug release was assessed under physiological conditions using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) at 37 °C. Drug concentrations were measured at predetermined time intervals with UV–Visible spectrophotometry, and cumulative release profiles were plotted over 240 hours.

Results: The dual-drug sutures demonstrated a biphasic release pattern. TXA showed a rapid burst release exceeding 60% within the first 48 hours, followed by near-complete release by Day 10. In contrast, DEX exhibited a sustained and controlled release, reaching approximately 85% over 240 hours.

Conclusion: The PCL-coated dual-drug suture system provided stage-specific therapeutic benefits, enabling immediate hemostasis through TXA release and prolonged anti-inflammatory action through DEX release. These findings highlight the potential clinical utility of bioactive sutures in enhancing wound healing and surgical outcomes.