Dual In Situ Integration for Braided Silk Fibers Enabling Multifunctional Bioactive Sutures

The study introduces a novel silk fibroin-based suture, SF/Ag/Cur, enhanced with silver nanoparticles and curcumin using a dual in situ integration strategy. This suture exhibits excellent biocompatibility, significant antibacterial properties, and reactive oxygen species scavenging efficacy, which collectively aid in reducing inflammation and promoting wound healing. It accelerates healing by enhancing angiogenesis and collagen deposition while minimizing scar formation. The suture also features a colorimetric pH-responsive ability for real-time wound condition assessment via smartphone. In vitro and in vivo assessments confirm its multifunctional capabilities, achieving over 99% bacterial reduction against E. coli and S. aureus, and maintaining over 90% cell survival. While promising, further validation in diverse wound environments and scalable manufacturing processes are needed for clinical application.