Biomaterial Database

Chemical stress relaxation of polyglycolic acid suture. 1994

M J Hayes, and M D Lauren

Columbia Laboratories, Inc., Buffalo, New York 14214.

Chemical stress relaxation methods are employed to study chemical and mechanical factors influencing the degradation of uncoated polyglycolic (PG) sutures. Specially constructed instrumentation is used to study the kinetics of the load bearing capability of PG (Dexon¿) 3-0 sutures in hydrolytic solution. The effects of pH, temperature, strain rate, and initial load on the rate of chemical stress relaxation are presented. Data show how mechanical factors such as the rate of loading (related to the speed of knot tying), as well as the final tension, are related to the rate of structural degradation. Maximum stability is observed at approximately 40 degrees C, with slower degradation both above and below this point. Results show that the slower and tighter the suture is pulled, the greater its ability to sustain tensile loads during hydrolysis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008422	Materials Testing	The testing of materials and devices, especially those used for PROSTHESES AND IMPLANTS; SUTURES; TISSUE ADHESIVES; etc., for hardness, strength, durability, safety, efficacy, and biocompatibility.	Biocompatibility Testing,Biocompatible Materials Testing,Hemocompatibility Testing,Testing, Biocompatible Materials,Testing, Hemocompatible Materials,Hemocompatibility Testings,Hemocompatible Materials Testing,Materials Testing, Biocompatible,Materials Testing, Hemocompatible,Testing, Biocompatibility,Testing, Hemocompatibility,Testing, Materials,Testings, Biocompatibility
D011100	Polyglycolic Acid	A biocompatible polymer used as a surgical suture material.	Polyglycolide,Biofix,Dexon (Polyester),Dexon-S,Dexon S,DexonS
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001673	Biodegradation, Environmental	Elimination of ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS; PESTICIDES and other waste using living organisms, usually involving intervention of environmental or sanitation engineers.	Bioremediation,Phytoremediation,Natural Attenuation, Pollution,Environmental Biodegradation,Pollution Natural Attenuation
D013314	Stress, Mechanical	A purely physical condition which exists within any material because of strain or deformation by external forces or by non-uniform thermal expansion; expressed quantitatively in units of force per unit area.	Mechanical Stress,Mechanical Stresses,Stresses, Mechanical
D013537	Sutures	Materials used in closing a surgical or traumatic wound. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Staples, Surgical,Surgical Staples,Staple, Surgical,Surgical Staple,Suture
D013718	Tensile Strength	The maximum stress a material subjected to a stretching load can withstand without tearing. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 5th ed, p2001)	Strength, Tensile,Strengths, Tensile,Tensile Strengths
D016474	Weight-Bearing	The physical state of supporting an applied load. This often refers to the weight-bearing bones or joints that support the body's weight, especially those in the spine, hip, knee, and foot.	Load-Bearing,Axial Loading,Loadbearing,Weightbearing,Axial Loadings,Load Bearing,Weight Bearing