Drug loaded phosphate glass/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite for orthopedic applications

In orthopedic surgery, bone infection (osteomyelitis) is one of the most challenging issues encountered in the last few decades and the local drug delivery is the key strategy to overcome this issue. Drug loaded bioactive hydroxyapatite based nanocomposite bone substitutes are widely studied materials for local drug delivery application. In the present work, a cylindrical shaped gentamicin sulfate (GS) loaded phosphate glass/hydroxyapatite (PG/HA) nanocomposite has been developed. The physico-chemical characterization and in vitro bioactivity and biocompatibility of the synthesized PG/HA nanocomposite were studied. Dissolution studies demonstrated that the PG/HA nanocomposite has better degradation than pristine PG and HA. The drug loaded PG/HA nanocomposite exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Also the nanocomposite displayed good apatite forming ability in simulated body fluid (SBF), a sustained drug release profile and excellent cytocompatibility with MG63 cells. The developed PG/HA nanocomposite can be a promising carrier for drug delivery in treating osteomyelitis.