Functional Evaluation of Polydioxanone Threads Coated with Polyethylene Glycol and Amino Acids for Medical Application

Abstract

Polydioxanone (PDO) is a biodegradable polymer with multiple medical applications. Recently, various coatings have been applied to products made of biodegradable polymers, in order to improve functionality. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) hydrogels have demonstrated remarkable potential in accelerating wound healing and amino acids have been reported to stimulate protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biocompatibility and functionality of the PDO thread coated with a 1% (w/w) coating solution containing PEG and amino acids Glycine (Gly) and L-proline (L-proline). In particular, we evaluated whether this coating enhanced wound regeneration ability and promoted collagen synthesis. After coating PDO threads with PEG, Gly, and L-Pro alone or in combination, the cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and collagen production were examined in cultured human skin fibroblasts. All experiments were repeated three times. All coated threads exhibited low cytotoxicity and the threads coated with PEG or PEG and L-Pro showed higher antioxidant activity and greater collagen production in human fibroblasts than the uncoated threads. Our findings suggest that PDO threads coated with PEG and amino acids are biocompatible and offer several beneficial properties, including antioxidant microenvironment formation and wound healing stimulation, offering the potential for use in various medical applications.