LAUSR

Abstract In the present investigation suture material was prepared using collagen, prepared from tannery solid waste and impregnated with a plasticizer, which can be used for external surgical applications. Collagen was blended with ethylene glycol and lyophilized to get a semisolid collagen paste, which was used for the preparation of the absorbable suture (AS). The prepared AS was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. In addition, in vitro and in vivo studies were also carried out. The developed novel ASs revealed their biodegradable properties that make them suitable for biomedical engineering applications. The unique feature of the AS is that it exhibits tensile strength as high as 43.16 ± 1.03 MPa and can be stored for a period of six months. The study indicate that the developed ASs have potential wound healing as well as external surgical application. It also provides an opportunity for utilization of solid leather wastes generated by tanneries to make value added medical products for biomedical applications.