Surgical Mesh for Controlled Release of a Bioactive Agent

A polymeric drug carrier, suture-specific coating for a suture, comprising:

• a crystalline, polyaxial copolyester, absorbable in at least one organic solvent, the copolyester selected from the group consisting of a copolyester of polycaprolactone and a copolyester of ε-caprolactone and at least one cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of lactide, glycolide and trimethylene carbonate, the copolyester having a weight average molecular weight of up to about 20 kDa, a melting temperature (Tm) of greater than about 37° C., and a heat of fusion (ΔHf) of greater than about 20 J/g,
• the copolyester having molecularly dispersed therein from about 0.01 to about 15 weight percent of at least one bioactive agent selected from antimicrobial agents, antiviral agents, antineoplastic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, pain-relieving agents, anesthetic agents and tissue-regenerative agents,
• wherein the coating may be applied to monofilament sutures at a level efficacious for the controlled release of the at least one bioactive agent for a period of greater than about three days and the coating may be applied to braided multifilament sutures at a level efficacious for the controlled release of the at least one bioactive agent for a period of greater than about two weeks.