Wound coverings comprising vitamin d and related methods

Abstract

A wound covering is provided that comprises a substrate and vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, embedded in the substrate. Methods of making a wound covering are also provided and include the steps of providing a solution that includes a polymer; adding vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, to the solution to form a mixture; and forming one or more fibers from the mixture that are then embedded with the vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof. Methods of treating a subject are further provided and include the step of applying a wound covering including one or more fibers embedded with vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, to a site on a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suture, comprising:
 one or more fibers comprised of a polymer; and   25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) embedded within the one or more fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The suture of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer includes poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly( L -lactide) (PLA), cellulose, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The suture of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fibers are electrospun fibers produced by an electrospinning process. 
     
     
         4 . The suture of  claim 3 , wherein each electrospun fiber is plasma-treated. 
     
     
         5 . The suture of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is biodegradable and biocompatible. 
     
     
         6 . The suture of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is configured to release the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) under physiological conditions for at least about 1 day to about 50 days. 
     
     
         7 . The suture of  claim 1 , further comprising a bioactive agent. 
     
     
         8 . The suture of  claim 7 , wherein the bioactive agent is selected from antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A suture, comprising:
 one or more fibers comprised of a polymer;   and vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, embedded in the one or more fibers,   wherein the one or more fibers including the vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, embedded therein are electrospun fibers produced by an electrospinning process.   
     
     
         10 . The suture of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer includes poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly( L -lactide) (PLA), cellulose, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The suture of  claim 9 , wherein each electrospun fiber is plasma-treated. 
     
     
         12 . The suture of  claim 9 , wherein the suture is biodegradable and biocompatible. 
     
     
         13 . The suture of  claim 9 , wherein the suture is configured to release the vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, under physiological conditions for at least about 1 day to about 50 days. 
     
     
         14 . The suture of  claim 9 , further comprising a bioactive agent. 
     
     
         15 . The suture of  claim 14 , wherein the bioactive agent is selected from antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The suture of  claim 9 , wherein the vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, is 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a wound, comprising applying a suture to a site on a subject, the suture including one or more fibers comprised of a polymer and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) embedded within the one or more fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the site on the subject is a surgical site or a site of a tissue injury or wound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein applying the wound covering increases an amount of an antimicrobial peptide in the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide is selected from hCAP18 and LL-37.