Advanced Technologies and Polymer Materials for Surgical Sutures

1. Introduction to biopolymers for surgical suture applications
2. Functionalization of sutures
3. Improving the therapeutic value of sutures
4. Evaluating the mechanical properties of sutures
5. Polymers for surgical sutures
6. Smart sutures
7. Bioactive sutures: advances in surgical suture functionalization
8. Engineering aspects of suture fabrication
9. Revisiting the properties of suture materials: an overview
10. Suture materials, emerging trends
11. Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of polymer sutures
12. Shape memory polymers as sutures
13. Drug release kinetics of sutures

Prof. Sabu Thomas is a renowned professor who is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He is also a full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences, a role which he has held since 1998. He was previously Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University 2017-2018, Director of School of Chemical Science during 2010-2013, Hon. Director of International & Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2009-2015 and 2016-17. In 2015, Prof. Thomas received his first Docteur Honoris Causa from University of Souther Brittany in Lorient, France. In 2016, he received his second Doctorate honoris causa from University of Lorraine, France. He was awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, FRSC in 2012. He received the Bronze Medal of the Chemical Research Society of India and the MRSI Medal of the Material Research Society of India in 2013. He was the recipient of Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Award 2017. He also received TRiLA Academician of the year 2018 award. Prof. Thomas has published more than 1000 publications, and more than 100 books. Professor of Polymer Engineering, Director, Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Polymer Science and Technology, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK Ben currently leads the RKT Centre for Polymer Micro and Nano Technology based at the University of Bradford which provides a key resource for industry working to bring micro and nano scale components to market, alongside internationally recognised pioneering academic research in the field. Dr. Blessy Joseph is a Research Fellow at the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. Her research has focused on green synthesis of nanoparticles for biomedical applications and the development of polymer scaffolds for biomedical applications. Dr. Joseph has contributed to several book chapters in related areas. Dr Nair graduated from Bharathi Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy (India) with a Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy and he gained a PGDip in pharmacology from Nottingham Trent University. He also has an MSc in drug delivery from Aston University, Birmingham. In 2014 he completed his PhD in Pharmaceutical Engineering from Polymer IRC, University of Bradford and since then he is working as a Post-Doctoral Researcher on Healthcare Impact Partnership project on Smart Manufacturing of Medical Devices for soft tissue fixation (e.g. rotator cuff and anterior cruciate ligament repairs; fixations for fracture (including intramedullary nails) and knee joint replacements). The aim of this collaborative project is to exploit unique capabilities in shape memory polymers and biomaterials for enhanced biomedical cementless fixations using controlled shape reversion, in clinically relevant timescales, and open up opportunities for new solutions in orthopaedic repairs, which will have a defined route to regulatory certification and a clear patent pathway.