High strength suture coated with rgd peptide

Abstract

A high strength surgical material with improved tie down characteristics and tissue compliance formed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) yarns, the suture being coated with arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptide. The suture has exceptional strength, is ideally suited for most orthopedic procedures, and can be attached to a suture anchor or a curved needle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 840,467, filed on Aug. 28, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to high strength surgical suture materials, and more particularly to braided suture blends of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene coated with RGD peptide.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Suture strength is an important consideration in any surgical suture material. One of the strongest materials currently formed into elongated strands is an ultrahigh molecular weight long chain polyethylene, typically used for fishing line and the like, which is sold under the trade names Dyneema or Spectra. This material is much stronger than ordinary surgical suture, however, it does not have acceptable knot tie down characteristics for use in surgical applications.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present inventio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention advantageously provides a high strength surgical suture material with improved tie down characteristics. The suture features a braided jacket made of ultrahigh molecular weight fibers. The suture is coated with arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptide. The ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene provides strength. Polyester fibers woven with the high molecular weight polyethylene provide improved tie down properties. RGD peptide promotes cell adhesion to substrates in vivo by interacting with receptors, integrins, on cell surface proteins. Further, RGD peptides also increase the permeability of endothelial monolayers and therefore may aid in surgical applications.

[0009]The suture is coated with RGD peptide. RGD peptide suitable for use in the present invention is marketed under PCI-36xx-PI by Peptides International, and under GRADSP peptide and GRGDSP peptide by Calbiochem. Other products suitable for use in the present invention marketed by Pierce are: (i) Product #28390-BupH MES Buffered Saline Packs to make a 500 ml of 0.1 M 2-[morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid, 0.9% NaCl, pH 4.7 when dissolved in 500 ml deionized water (5 liters total); (ii) Product # 22980-1-Ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC or EDAC), a zero-length crosslinking agent used to couple carboxyl groups to primary amines and a water-soluble carbodiimide for rapid preparation of peptide conjugates; (iii) Product #24510-N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (Sulfo-NHS), a product useful in improving the efficiency of EDC coupling.

[0010]A trace thread or two in the suture jacket aids surgeons in identifying the travel direction of the suture during surgery, particularly during operations viewed arthroscopically or remotely. Providing the trace threads in a regularly repeating pattern is particularly useful, allowing the surgeon to decode different ends of a length of suture, and to determine the direction of travel of a moving length of suture. The trace threads preferably are provided uniquely on each half of a length of suture to allow for tracing and identification of each end of the suture, such as when the suture is threaded through an eyelet of a suture anchor.

Problems solved by technology

This material is much stronger than ordinary surgical suture, however, it does not have acceptable knot tie down characteristics for use in surgical applications.

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