Bone with cement and antibiotic: antibiotic release in vitro

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis) pose significant treatment challenges.
• Effective local antibiotic delivery systems are crucial for managing these infections.
• Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement is widely used in orthopedic surgery, often loaded with antibiotics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antibiotic release profile of morcellized bone mixed with vancomycin and PMMA cement.
• To assess the suitability of this composite for treating chronic septic bone pathologies.
• To compare antibiotic release in plasma versus physiological solution.

Main Methods:

• Cylinders of morcellized bone with vancomycin-PMMA and vancomycin-PMMA alone were prepared.
• Samples were immersed in plasma or physiological solution for 28 days at 37°C.
• Immersion fluids were analyzed daily for the first week, then on days 14, 21, and 28 to quantify vancomycin release.

Main Results:

• The greatest and most consistent release of vancomycin was observed from cylinders containing morcellized bone, cement, and antibiotic immersed in plasma.
• Antibiotic release profiles differed between plasma and physiological solution environments.
• The presence of morcellized bone influenced the vancomycin release kinetics.

Conclusions:

• Morcellized bone combined with vancomycin-PMMA cement demonstrates a promising sustained antibiotic release profile, particularly in a plasma environment.
• This composite material warrants further investigation for its efficacy in treating chronic bone infections.
• The findings support the potential clinical application of this biomaterial in orthopedic infection management.