Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
A Novel Method to Determine the Longitudinal Antibacterial Activity of Drug-Eluting Materials
Published on: March 3, 2023
Antibiotic-eluting hydrophilized PMMA bone cement with prolonged bactericidal effect for the treatment of
Eun Jo Oh1, Se Heang Oh2, In Soo Lee3
1Department of Advanced Materials, Hannam University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Osteomyelitis is still considered to be one of the major challenges for orthopedic surgeons despite advanced antiseptic surgical procedures and pharmaceutical therapeutics. In this study, hydrophilized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cements containing Pluronic F68 (EG79PG28EG79) as a hydrophilic additive and vancomycin (F68-VAcements) were prepared to allow the sustained release of the antibiotic for adequate periods of time without any significant loss of mechanical properties. The compressive strengths of the bone cements with Pluronic F68 compositions less than 7 wt% were not significantly different compared with the control vancomycin-loaded bone cement (VAcement). TheF68 (7 wt%)-VAcement showed sustained release of the antibiotic for up to 11 weeks and almost 100% release from the bone cement. It also prohibited the growth ofS. aureus(zone of inhibition) over six weeks (the required period to treat osteomyelitis), and it did not show any notable cytotoxicity. From an animal study using a femoral osteomyelitis rat model, it was observed that theF68 (7 wt%)-VAcement was effective for the treatment of osteomyelitis, probably as a result of the prolonged release of antibiotic from the PMMA bone cement. On the basis of these findings, it can be suggested that the use of Pluronic F68 as a hydrophilic additive for antibiotic-eluting PMMA bone cement can be a promising strategy for the treatment of osteomyelitis.
Insights
This study developed novel bone cement for osteomyelitis treatment. The new Pluronic F68-enhanced cement effectively released antibiotics and inhibited bacterial growth in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Infectious Disease Treatment
Background:
- Osteomyelitis presents a significant challenge in orthopedic surgery.
- Current treatments face limitations despite advancements in surgical and pharmaceutical approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate hydrophilized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cements with sustained antibiotic release for osteomyelitis treatment.
- To assess the mechanical properties, antibiotic elution profile, antibacterial efficacy, and in vivo performance of the novel bone cement.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of PMMA bone cements incorporating Pluronic F68 and vancomycin.
- Evaluation of compressive strength, antibiotic release kinetics (up to 11 weeks), and antibacterial activity against S. aureus (zone of inhibition).
- Assessment of cytotoxicity and efficacy in a rat femoral osteomyelitis model.
Main Results:
- PMMA bone cements with <7 wt% Pluronic F68 showed comparable mechanical properties to control VAcement.
- The 7 wt% Pluronic F68-vancomycin cement demonstrated sustained antibiotic release for 11 weeks with nearly 100% elution.
- This cement exhibited significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus for six weeks and proved effective in an animal model without notable cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Pluronic F68 as a hydrophilic additive in vancomycin-eluting PMMA bone cement is a promising strategy for osteomyelitis treatment.
- The developed F68-VAcement offers sustained antibiotic delivery and potent antibacterial effects, addressing a critical clinical need.
