Collagen Co-Braids Demonstrate Equivalent or Superior Physical Properties to Conventional Orthopedic Sutures

While conventional high strength orthopedic sutures are made from synthetic materials, here we present a novel collagen co-braid with a unique composition of approximately 50 wt% type I collagen fibers and 50 wt% Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and has been shown to have biostimulative properties including encouraging angiogenesis, stimulating new tissue formation, and enhancing biointegration. Here, we tested and compared critical physical properties of collagen-UHMWPE co-braids and industry-leading conventional high strength orthopedic sutures across several measures including knotted tensile strength, knot security, knot profile, and abrasiveness to tissue. In all of these assessments, collagen co-braids were shown to exhibit equivalent or superior performance characteristics, with a notably reduced abrasiveness to tissue, compared to conventional high strength UHMWPE sutures of corresponding sizes. This study concludes that collagen co-braids provide sufficient mechanical properties for the high demands of orthopedic procedures while incorporating a biological component.