How are synthetic suture materials broken down by the body?

• A. Hydrolysis
• B. Phagocytosis
• C. Mechanical wear
• D. Osmosis

Answer: (A)

Hydrolysis is the mechanism by which many synthetic absorbable sutures are broken down in the body. These sutures are polymers with ester bonds in their backbone. In tissue fluids, water attacks these ester bonds, gradually cleaving the polymer chains. As the chains shorten, the material loses strength and is broken into small, water‑soluble fragments that are resorbed and eliminated. This chemical degradation happens independently of cellular digestion. Phagocytosis would involve cells ingesting debris, which isn’t the primary driver here; mechanical wear is just physical abrasion and doesn’t account for the chemical breakdown in tissues; osmosis is water movement and does not degrade the polymer.