V. A. Zhukovskii

Study of Strength and Relaxation Properties of Polyester Surgical Suture Threads

We have studied the details of the mechanical behavior of polyester (Lavsan) twisted and braided surgical suture threads, including threads coated with the fluorinated rubber SKF-26. We show that application of this coating to the surface of twisted or braided suture threads makes it possible, without reducing the biocompatibility, strength or handling properties, to eliminate wicking, make them atraumatic, and improve surgical knot security. We have found that creep in twisted suture threads is twice as great as in braided threads. We have established the nonlinearity of the viscoelastic behavior of polyester surgical suture threads over the entire working range for loading on the suture material.

Sterilization of Carboxymethylcellulose Anti-Commissural Biomaterials

The effects of various sterilization methods (radiation, gas, autoclave) on the properties of carboxymethylcellulose anti-commissural devices were examined. The sterilization methods for anticommissural gels and membranes were determined by studying the rheology of solutions produced from the gels and membranes.

Kinetics of Antibiotic Exchange on Fibrous Ion Exchangers

Sorption modes were determined and diffusion coefficients were calculated for several antibiotics during ion exchange on polypropylene and polycaproamide fibrous ion exchangers. It was shown that the diffusion coefficients were largely determined by the ionic strength of the sorbent and sorbate functional groups. The desorption kinetics of the antibiotics enabled their contents in the fibers and rates of desorption to be predicted mathematically. This allowed the concentration of the active ingredient and the duration of antimicrobial activity to be controlled.

Surgical Suture Materials with Special Properties

New approaches and technologies for structural and physical modification of surgical threads that were aimed at increasing the biocompatibility and suture reliability; decreasing tissue injury, rigidness, and wicking; and improving the manipulative properties were developed. The principles for producing fibrous polypropylene and polycaproamide suture materials with prolonged antimicrobial activity by binding chemotherapy drugs using ionic bonds were found. Groups of different reactivity in the fibers and drugs made it possible to control the duration and efficacy of their biological activity.

Elastic properties of polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride monofilaments and meshed endoprosthses based on them

Investigations were carried out to determine the interrelation between elastic properties of polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride monofilaments and meshed implants (endoprostheses) based on them that are used in reconstructive-restorative surgery. The structure of the warp-knitted endoprostheses is approximated by a mesh having rectangular cells possessing anisotropic elasticity in orthogonal directions. In this regard, for a comparison of elastic properties of filaments and filaments as constituents of meshed fabrics, a switch from the coefficient of elasticity of the mesh to Young’s modulus of the filament as a constituent of the prostheses was made. It is shown that the coefficients of elasticity of the prostheses are proportional to the elasticity coefficients of polymer filaments usable for their fabrication.