DEVELOPMENT OF ABSORBABLE SUTURES FROM CHITIN1

Initial physiological tests of chitin absorbable surgical sutures have given encouraging results. The multifilament fibers, spun from an amide-LiCl solvent, had a tensile strength of about 50 kg/mm 2 . The strength of braided sutures was well maintained in bile, urine and pancreatic juice, which are problem areas with other absorbable sutures. Toxicity tests of the chitin sutures, including mutogenicity, acute toxicity, pyrogenicity, hemolysis and skin reaction were negative in all respects.