Propolis an Eco-Friendly Antibacterial Coating for Wound Sutures

Characterization of silk sutures coated with propolis and biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs); an eco-friendly solution with wound healing potential against surgical site infections (SSIs)

Turk J Med Sci. 2019 Oct 27

BACKGROUND/AIM:

Bacterial adherence to a suture material is one of the main reasons that cause surgical site infections. An antibacterial suture material with enhanced wound healing function may prevent the surgical site from infections. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of propolis and biogenic metallic nanoparticles when combined with silk sutures for biomedical use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) synthesis was carried out via a microbial-mediated biological route and impregnated on propolis-loaded silk sutures using an in situ process. silk sutures fabricated with propolis and biosynthesized AgNPs (bioAgNP-propolis coated sutures) were intensively characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Antibacterial characteristics of the bioAgNP-propolis coated sutures was evaluated using agar plate method. Biocompatibility of the bioAgNP-propolis coated sutures was evaluated using 3T3 fibroblast cells and their wound healing potential was also investigated.
RESULTS:

BioAgNP-propolis coated sutures displayed potent antibacterial activity against pathogenic Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria; Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. BioAgNP-propolis coated silk sutures were found to be biocompatible with 3T3 fibroblast cell culture. In vitro wound healing scratch assay was also demonstrated that the extract of bioAgNP-propolis coated sutures stimulated the 3T3 fibroblasts? cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION:

Coating the silk sutures with propolis and biogenic AgNPs gained an effective antibacterial capacity to surgical sutures besides providing biocompatibility and wound healing activity.