Antibacterial multifilament nylon sutures.

Multifilament nylon fibers were made antibacterial by dopping with iodine. Nylon fibers were immersed in acetone solution of iodine for 48 hours at room temperature for dopping of iodine. It was observed that iodine uptake by the nylon fibers increased with the increase in concentration of iodine in the solution. Antibacterial activity of these iodine dopped samples was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition. The bacterial species used for this study were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Iodine dopped fibers exhibited good antibacterial activity against these bacterial species. Release of iodine in distilled water is sustained for about 30 days. Antibacterial activity of the fibers decreases with the release of iodine in water. Ultra-violet and visible spectroscopic studies showed that tri-iodide ions were released from the dopped samples in the aqueous medium. These I3- ions might be responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. Fiber shrinks on iodine dopping leading to increase in the denier of the fiber. However effect of iodine dopping on the breaking load of fibers is not significant.