Accelerated Testing of the Stability of the Properties of Surgical Suture Materials Based on Biodegradable and Nonbiodegradable Polymers

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces. 2025. Vol. 61. No. 5. P. 1231–1238.

Zhavoronok E. S., Lenkova K. A., Matrenina A. V., Vinokurova T. I., Senchikhin I., Kedik S. A., Legonkova O. A.

This study investigated two groups of surgical suture materials—nonabsorbable (polyethylene terephthalate,
polyamide, and silk) and absorbable (glycolic/lactic acid copolymer)—before and after accelerated aging. The analysis employed tensile strength testing, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Following domestic and international standards for polymer aging, the samples were subjected to the following initial accelerated aging conditions: 168 days at 50°C, 84 days at 60°C, and 42 days at 70°C. The results demonstrate that accelerated aging does not alter the chemical or phase structure of the nonabsorbable sutures. Their strength properties complied with the relevant standard requirements, which supports the suitability of these test conditions for such materials. However, not all initial test conditions suit absorbable sutures because these fibers lose a significant portion of their strength because of pronounced chemical and physical changes. FTIR and DSC data support the use of more moderate accelerated-aging conditions for absorbable sutures.

Keywords: Mechanical properties, polyethylene terephthalate, glass transition temperature, surgical sutures, nonabsorbable sutures, polyamide, silk, absorbable sutures, copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids, accelerated aging, temperature coefficient, melting temperature, crystallization temperature, relative elongation