Researchers in China have developed a new type of suture that can help speed up wound healing and reduce the risk of infection by harnessing electrical stimulation. The electrically stimulated suture is made of a core filament of magnesium wrapped in a biodegradable polymer, contained inside a sheath made of another biodegradable material. When the suture is put under strain, the core moves within the sheath, generating an electric field at the wound site to accelerate healing.
Experiments with artificial muscle fibers and rats with wounds showed that the new sutures promoted cell migration, proliferation, and reduced bacterial growth compared to traditional sutures. Tests on rats revealed that wounds held together with the electrically stimulated sutures healed almost 50% faster and had fewer bacteria after 10 days, compared to wounds stitched with ordinary bioabsorbable sutures.
The research team, led by Dr. Chengyi Hou from Donghua University, is currently conducting clinical trials to test the efficacy of the new sutures in humans. The novel aspect of this innovation is that the suture generates electricity through natural movements, eliminating the need for external electrical devices or battery-operated systems. Dr. Karen Wright from Lancaster University, who was not involved in the research, highlighted the advantages of the new sutures, noting that they are degradable in situ and have a similar cost to commercial absorbable sutures.
The development of these electrically stimulated sutures has the potential to revolutionize wound healing in surgical procedures by providing a simple and effective way to promote tissue repair and reduce the risk of infections.
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