Bioactive Suture with Added Innate Defense Functionality for the Reduction of Bacterial Infection and Inflammation

Abstract Surgical site infections (SSI) are a clinical and economic burden. Suture‐associated SSI may develop when bacteria colonize the suture surface and form biofilms that are resistant to antibiotics. Thrombin‐derived C‐terminal peptide (TCP)‐25 is a host defense peptide with a unique dual mode of action that can target both bacteria and the excessive inflammation induced by bacterial products. The peptide demonstrates therapeutic potential in preclinical in vivo wound infection models. In this study, the authors set out to explore whether TCP‐25 can provide a new bioactive innate immune feature to hydrophilic polyglactin sutures (Vicryl). Using a combination of biochemical, biophysical, antibacterial, biofilm, and anti‐inflammatory assays in vitro, in silico molecular modeling studies, along with experimental infection and inflammation models in mice, a proof‐of‐concept that TCP‐25 can provide Vicryl sutures with a previously undisclosed host defense capacity, that enables targeting of bacteria, biofilms, and the accompanying inflammatory response, is shown.