Polydioxanone PDO

Fibers made from polymers containing a high percentage of polyglycolide are too stiff for monofilament suture and thus are available only in braided form above the micro-suture size range. The first clinically tested mono-filament synthetic absorbable suture was made from Polydioxanone PDO. The monomer p-dioxanone, is analogous to glycolide but yields a poly-(ether-ester).

Polydioxanone monofilaments retained tensile strength longer than the braided polyglycolide and were absorbed in about six months with minimal tissue response. Polydioxanone degradation in vitro was affected by gamma irradiation dosage but not substantially by the presence of enzymes.