Characterization of silk sutures coated with propolis and biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs); an eco-friendly solution with wound healing potential against surgical site infections (SSIs)

Abstract

Background/aim: Bacterial adherence to a suture material is one of the main causes of surgical site infections. An antibacterialsuture material with enhanced wound healing function may protect the surgical site from infections. Thus, the present study aimed toinvestigate the synergistic effect of propolis and biogenic metallic nanoparticles when combined with silk sutures for biomedical use.Materials and methods: Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) synthesis was carried out via a microbial-mediated biological route andimpregnated on propolis-loaded silk sutures using an in situ process. Silk sutures fabricated with propolis and biosynthesized AgNPs(bioAgNP-propolis-coated sutures) were intensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-rayspectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The antibacterial characteristicsof the bioAgNP-propolis-coated sutures were evaluated using the agar plate method. The biocompatibility of the bioAgNP-propoliscoatedsutures was evaluated using 3T3 fibroblast cells, and their wound-healing potential was also investigated.Results: BioAgNP-propolis-coated sutures displayed potent antibacterial activity against pathogenic gram-negative and gram-positivebacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. BioAgNP-propolis-coated silk sutures were found to be biocompatiblewith 3T3 fibroblast cell culture. In vitro wound healing scratch assay also demonstrated that the extract of bioAgNP-propolis-coatedsutures stimulated the 3T3 fibroblasts’ cell proliferation.Conclusion: Coating the silk sutures with propolis and biogenic AgNPs gave an effective antibacterial capacity to surgical suturesbesides providing biocompatibility and wound healing activity.