Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026

09:37
Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
Published on: October 23, 2015
13.4K
Sustaining Antibiotic Release from a Poly(methyl methacrylate) Bone-Spacer
Pongpat Oungeun1,2, Rojrit Rojanathanes1,1, Piya Pinsornsak3
1The Petrochemistry and Polymer Science Program, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center of Excellence in Advanced Materials and Biointerfaces, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
ACS Omega
|September 26, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed new methods to improve antibiotic release from bone cement spacers. Encapsulating vancomycin in calcium citrate extended drug release over 40 days, crucial for infection treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Bone-spacer materials like Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are vital for treating bone infections.
- Current PMMA bone spacers require improved sustained release of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic antibiotics for effective infection cure.
- Achieving continuous antibiotic elution for 4-6 weeks remains a significant challenge in bone infection management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the sustained release of hydrophilic vancomycin (VAN) and hydrophobic erythromycin (ERY) from PMMA bone cement.
- To evaluate the impact of different encapsulation methods on antibiotic release profiles and mechanical properties of PMMA composites.
- To investigate novel drug delivery systems for improved bone infection treatment using antibiotic-loaded bone spacers.
Main Methods:
- Hydrophilic VAN was encapsulated into calcium citrate (CC) particles and rice granules.
- Hydrophobic ERY was encapsulated into ethyl cellulose and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) particles.
- Four types of antibiotic-loaded particles were incorporated into PMMA cement, and drug release and mechanical strength were analyzed.
Main Results:
- PMMA composites with VAN-loaded CC demonstrated prolonged VAN release (>40 days) but reduced compressive strength.
- PMMA composites with unencapsulated ERY showed better sustained release compared to encapsulated ERY.
- VAN elution from VAN-CC-PMMA did not significantly affect compressive strength, while ERY elution decreased mechanical strength.
Conclusions:
- Calcium citrate encapsulation shows promise for sustained vancomycin release from PMMA bone spacers.
- Encapsulation strategies need further optimization to balance drug release and mechanical integrity, especially for hydrophobic antibiotics.
- This study provides insights into developing advanced PMMA bone cements for more effective bone infection therapy.

