Drug eluting sutures: A recent update

The main use of surgical sutures is to assist closure and healing of trauma-induced as well as surgical wounds. Thisis done by upholding wound tissues together in order to facilitate the healing process. A huge variety of suturesare available for the medical purposes, e.g., bio active sutures, knot-less sutures, electronic sutures, drug-elutingsutures, anti-microbial sutures, and stem cells containing sutures. Sutures increase the capabilities to improve tissueapproximation and wound healing. Sutures with drug eluting property are the advanced type of sutures being used forsurgical purpose via delivery of drug to the specified area. Various new strategies develop the effectiveness of suturesto be used as physical entity to get better biologically active component which enables the delivery of various desirabledrugs and cells to the affected site. Ideal modified sutures should not only retain its mechanical integrity during thehealing process, but should also deliver the drugs loaded in it, in a controlled manner. These nano-structured fibers,produced by electrospinning and electrospraying techniques, offer tuneable release kinetics applicable to diversebiomedical applications. Drug eluting sutures lead to reduced surgical site infections, accelerated wound healing,reduced post-operative complications, and the most important thing is it reduces the need for supplement drugs. It willbe the biggest achievement if we get the desired concentration and effect of the loaded drug in these sutures withoutaffecting its mechanical properties. This can be achieved by enhancing/modifying the control release approaches. Thecurrent review gives updated information on recent advances in drug eluting sutures.