Preliminary in vitro Antibacterial Screening of Nanochitosan-functionalized PLA Monofilament Sutures for Potential Intraoral Wound-closure Applications
Hendry Rusdy *
Doctoral Program in Dental Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
Sondang Pintauli
Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
Ameta Primasari
department Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
Muhammad Ruslin
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia.
Basri Basri
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Aceh, Indonesia.
Olivia Avriyanti Hanafiah
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia.
Irwana Nainggolan
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia.
Trimurni Abidin
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia.
Harry Agusnar
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The study aims to compare the antibacterial performance of nanochitosan-functionalised polylactic acid (PLA) monofilament suture formulations and to determine whether surface coating provides a more favourable preliminary profile than bulk blending for potential intraoral wound-closure applications.
Study Design: Preliminary in vitro comparative formulation-screening study.
Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory-based biomaterials screening conducted at Universitas Sumatera Utara and collaborating laboratories in Indonesia.
Methodology: The experimental sample comprised six distinct formulation groups (n_formulations = 6): PLA dip-coated with commercial nanochitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) (A1), PLA dip-coated with naturally derived nanochitosan and TPP (A2), an uncoated PLA control (A3), PLA blended with commercial nanochitosan (B1), PLA blended with naturally derived nanochitosan (B2), and a blended-branch PLA control (B3). Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was the primary endpoint and was assessed by inhibition-zone diameter. Mucosal-cell viability and tensile properties were retained as supporting indicators. Results were reported descriptively as mean ± standard deviation; no inferential significance was claimed.
Results: A1 produced the numerically largest inhibition zone (16.8 ± 1.2 mm), followed by A2 (14.2 ± 1.0 mm), B1 (10.5 ± 0.9 mm), and B2 (9.2 ± 0.8 mm); A3 and B3 produced no inhibition. All formulations remained above the 70% preliminary non-cytotoxicity threshold, with A1 showing 92.5 ± 3.1% viability. A1 retained tensile strength of 34.84 kgf/mm² and had the greatest elongation at break (22.20%) among the formulations.
Conclusion: Within this preliminary formulation-level screening, surface-localised nanochitosan—particularly the commercial nanochitosan/TPP coating—showed the most favourable numerical balance of antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility, and mechanical adequacy. The findings identify A1 as a lead formulation for powered antibacterial testing, oral polymicrobial biofilm models, simulated saliva degradation, knot-security assessment, and in vivo wound-healing validation.
Keywords: PLA monofilament suture, nanochitosan coating, antibacterial suture, Staphylococcus aureus, intraoral wound closure, dental biomaterials, cytocompatibility, tensile strength, surface coating, biodegradable polymer.