a You are asked to sterilize degradable sutures formed from

(a) You are asked to sterilize degradable sutures formed from poly(caprolactone). Which sterilization method would you choose and why?

(b) The next day you find that someone has already sterilized the graft for you. You do one final mechanical test on the product and discover that the tensile strength

post-sterilization is significantly lower than the grafts you tested prior to sterilization. Which sterilization method did the person likely use? What happened to the polymer?

Justify your answer.

Solution

A) Since sutures are heat sensitive, gas like ethylene oxide is used for sterilization of biodegradable sutures.

B) the person might have used autoclave for sterilization which depolymerises the polymers and reduces the tensile strength.