The combination of a commercially available PGLA (poly[glycolide-co-l-lactide]), 90:10% suture material with bioactive
bioglass nanopowders (BGNs) and graphene oxide (GO)-doped BGNs offers
new opportunities for the clinical application of biomaterials in
soft tissue engineering. In the present experimental work, we demonstrate
that GO-doped melt-derived BGNs were synthesized via the sol–gel
process. After that, novel GO-doped and undoped BGNs were used to
coat resorbable PGLA surgical sutures, thereby imparting bioactivity,
biocompatibility, and accelerated wound healing properties to the
sutures. Stable and homogeneous coatings on the surface of the sutures
were achieved using an optimized vacuum sol deposition method. The
phase composition, morphology, elemental characteristics, and chemical
structure of uncoated and BGNs- and BGNs/GO-coated suture samples
were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,
field emission scanning electron microscopy, associated with elemental
analysis, and knot performance test. In addition, in vitro bioactivity
tests, biochemical tests, and in vivo tests were performed to examine
the role of BGNs and GO on the biological and histopathological properties
of the coated suture samples. The results indicated that the formation
of BGNs and GO was enhanced significantly on the suture surface, which
allowed for enhanced fibroblast attachment, migration, and proliferation
and promoted the secretion of the angiogenic growth factor to speed
up wound healing. These results confirmed the biocompatibility of
BGNs- and BGNs/GO-coated suture samples and the positive effect of
BGNs on the behavior of L929 fibroblast cells and also showed for
the first time the possibility that cells can adhere and proliferate
on the BGNs/GO-coated suture samples, especially in an in vivo environment.
Resorbable surgical sutures with bioactive coatings, such as those
prepared herein, can be an attractive biomaterial not only for hard
tissue engineering but also for clinical applications in soft tissue
engineering.