A human bone infection organ model for biomaterial research

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Infectious Diseases
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Current treatments for bone infections often involve debridement and systemic antibiotics, with some antibiotic carriers requiring removal.
• There is a need for innovative treatment strategies that combine infection control with bone regeneration and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an organ model for staphylococcal bone infections using human bone samples.
• To investigate the efficacy of microporous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) ceramic loaded with hydrogels (alginate, ADA-gelatin) and clindamycin in treating infected human bone ex vivo.
• To evaluate the impact of these treatments on bacterial counts and bone vitality over 28 days.

Main Methods:

• Human tibia plateau samples were infected with Staphylococcus aureus.
• Samples were treated with β-TCP composites loaded with alginate or ADA-gelatin hydrogels, with or without clindamycin.
• Bacterial counts were quantified over 28 days, and histological analysis assessed bone vitality.

Main Results:

• The organ model successfully replicated staphylococcal bone infection.
• Treatments with ADA-gelatin + clindamycin and alginate + clindamycin significantly reduced bacterial counts.
• No significant differences in bone vitality were observed among the groups.

Conclusions:

• Microporous β-TCP composites loaded with hydrogels and clindamycin effectively reduce bacterial growth in an ex vivo human bone infection model.
• This approach offers a potential biodegradable, load-bearing alternative for treating bone infections.
• The developed organ model can serve as a valuable tool for analyzing and treating bone infections, potentially replacing animal models.