Bioactive coatings on biopolymer materials: evaluation of mechanical, physical, thermal, and in vitro properties

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and characterize coatings of bioglass nanoparticles (BGNs) on biopolymer (poly [glycolide-co-L-lactide], (PGLA)) surgical sutures, and to investigate the effects of these coatings on the performance of the sutures as they slid through a skin substitute. Melt-derived BGNs were used to coat resorbable PGLA biopolymers, providing them with bioactivity, biocompatibility, and improved physical and mechanical properties. The structural, thermal, and physical properties of the coated and uncoated biopolymers were analyzed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS). The dissolution profiles and bioactivity of the BGNs-coated PGLA biopolymers were assessed through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Tensile strength tests were conducted on the biopolymers before and after immersion in simulated body fluid to evaluate the impact of the BGNs coating on the degradation of PGLA biopolymers. Incorporating BGNs into PGLA resulted in improved tensile strength properties. The study also found that increasing the BGNs ions content facilitated the formation of a hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layer in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium and medium with L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate solutions. In vitro bioactivity tests demonstrated that the coated suture biopolymers exhibited enhanced attachment, migration, and proliferation of fibroblasts, indicating favorable biocompatibility of the biomaterial for clinical applications.