Effect of a combined gamma irradiation and parylene plasma treatment on the hydrolytic degradation of synthetic biodegradable sutures

The aim of this study was to alter the hydrolytic degradation property of synthetic absorbable suture fibers so that their mass loss would occur at a shorter time without significantly compromising their tensile strength loss profile. A two‐step treatment concept (γ‐irradiation followed by Parylene plasma deposition) was introduced for achieving this aim. Vicryl® and Maxon® were used as the model compounds to test this new concept. After the treatment, the in vitro hydrolytic degradation properties of Vicryl and Maxon were evaluated by weight loss, tensile breaking strength, heat of fusion and melting temperature, intrinsic viscosity, surface wettability, and surface morphology. The results suggested that γ‐irradiation at a dosage level between 0.2–2.0 Mrad for Vicryl sutures and about 2.0 Mrad for Maxon sutures were the most effective dosages to accelerate the suture mass loss. The subsequent Parylene plasma deposition treatment statistically significantly improved the retention of tensile strength for both γ‐irradiated Vicryl and Maxon sutures and hence counteracted the undesirable γ‐irradiation induced acceleration of tensile strength loss. However, this second‐step Parylene plasma treatment extended the suture mass loss to longer periods. These findings were consistent with the observed surface wettability, surface morphology, intrinsic viscosity, and thermal properties. A thin hydrophobic Parylene skin layer wrapped around a suture was responsible for the slower rate in mass and strength loss. This outer skin layer acted as a barrier to not only water but also degradation fragments. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.