Small-diameter suture materials and suture coating materials made from the twisting or
braiding of biocompatible polymeric fibers have been developed, which support drug
delivery and maintain a high tensile strength. The fibers entrap (eg, encapsulate) one or
more therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents and provide prolonged release over a
period of at least a week, preferably a month. While monofilament fibers lose tensile strength
with the inclusion of active agents, twisting the drug-loaded, multifilament fibers allows for an …