Direct comparison
Prolene vs Nylon Suture: Polypropylene vs Nylon
Prolene vs nylon suture: Prolene is polypropylene, nylon is polyamide. FDA regulation, filament form, class and product code side by side, plus silk.
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How do Prolene (polypropylene), Nylon (polyamide) compare side by side?
The table below compares Prolene (polypropylene), Nylon (polyamide) across 13 procurement-relevant dimensions, from what the name refers to through source.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Prolene (polypropylene) | Nylon (polyamide) |
|---|---|---|
| What the name refers to | Prolene is an Ethicon brand name; the material is polypropylene | Nylon is a material name; Ethilon is Ethicon's nylon brand, Nurolon is a braided nylon brand |
| Material | Long-chain polyolefin polymer known as polypropylene | Long-chain aliphatic polymers Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 (polyamide) |
| Filament form | Monofilament | Monofilament or multifilament |
| Coating | Not stated in the regulation | May be uncoated or coated |
| Absorbable? | Nonabsorbable | Nonabsorbable |
| Indication in the regulation | Soft tissue approximation | Soft tissue approximation |
| Color | May be undyed or dyed with an FDA approved color additive | May be undyed or dyed with an FDA listed color additive |
| Needle | With or without a standard needle attached | Needle optional |
| FDA regulation and class | 21 CFR 878.5010; Class II (special controls) | 21 CFR 878.5020; Class II (special controls) |
| FDA product code | GAW (Suture, Nonabsorbable, Synthetic, Polypropylene) | GAR (Suture, Nonabsorbable, Synthetic, Polyamide) |
| Shared standard | USP monograph for Nonabsorbable Surgical Sutures; same FDA special-controls guidance for surgical sutures | USP monograph for Nonabsorbable Surgical Sutures; same FDA special-controls guidance for surgical sutures |
| Which applies | Polypropylene regulation and monofilament form apply whenever the product is polypropylene | Polyamide regulation applies; monofilament or multifilament depends on the specific product. Choosing a suture for a patient is a clinician decision. |
| Source | 21 CFR 878.5010 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/878.5010); openFDA device classification and GUDID records for PROLENE, read 2026-10-30 | 21 CFR 878.5020 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/878.5020); openFDA device classification and GUDID records for ETHILON, read 2026-10-30 |
Common questions
Common questions about Prolene (polypropylene) vs Nylon (polyamide)
Is Prolene the same as nylon?
+
No. Prolene is an Ethicon brand name for a polypropylene suture. Nylon sutures are made from Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6, which are polyamides. FDA regulates them under different sections: 21 CFR 878.5010 (polypropylene, product code GAW) and 21 CFR 878.5020 (polyamide, product code GAR).
What is the difference between silk and nylon suture?
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By FDA definition, silk (21 CFR 878.5030) is a multifilament thread of the protein fibroin from Bombyx mori, braided or twisted. Nylon (21 CFR 878.5020) is a synthetic polyamide that may be monofilament or multifilament and coated or uncoated. All three are nonabsorbable and Class II.
Going deeper
