Prevention of Post-operative Bacterial Colonization on Mice Buccal Mucosa Using Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles-Coated Nylon Sutures

In this study, biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) deposited on nylon sutures using in situ technique were employed as an in vivo antibacterial and wound healing strategy on post-operative buccal mucosa.

Biogenic AgNPs synthesized using phenolic-rich Eucalyptus camaldulensis extract, followed by coating on nylon monofilament surgical sutures. Subsequently, coated nylon sutures were sewn with a simple interrupt pattern at the wound of the buccal mucosa of five mice per group (coated and uncoated). Sutures were taken out at days 1, 3, and 7 post-surgery, and a biopsy specimen of buccal mucosa tissues was removed. In vivo effects including antibacterial activity, nitric oxide test, and histopathological changes were demonstrated in the buccal cavity of the mice model.

AgNPs-coated nylon sutures revealed bacteriostatic effects with more than 90% reduction in bacterial growth. Coated sutures inhibited nitric oxide generation by 12.09 μM, compared with uncoated sutures. In addition, the hematoxylin and eosin staining of buccal mucosa demonstrated that AgNPs-coated sutures attenuated inflammatory cells at wound sites. The average number of fibroblast cells in the AgNPs-coated suture group increased up to 0.24 cell/mm², compared with the uncoated group (p > 0.05).

This pioneering work suggested a reliable strategy for the management of surgical sites that promotes the wound healing due to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of AgNPs-coated nylon sutures.

Phenolic-rich Eucalyptus camaldulensis aqueous leaf extract was used to synthesize AgNPs. The development of biogenic AgNPs-coated nylon sutures using in situ technique represented a recent effort aimed at reducing postoperative surgical site infections by preventing bacterial contamination and inflammation.