Antimicrobial PMMA Bone Cement Containing Long Releasing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Yazan Al Thaher1, Raida Khalil2, Sharif Abdelghany3
1Faculty of Pharmacy, Philadelphia University, Amman 19392, Jordan.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 23, 2022
Summary
New bone cement using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) loaded with gentamicin offers prolonged antibiotic release, potentially preventing prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) after surgery. This innovation enhances prophylaxis and patient outcomes in total joint replacement (TJR).
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total joint replacement (TJR) lead to severe patient morbidity and mortality.
- Antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) is a common strategy for PJI prevention and treatment.
- Current ALBCs may have limitations in sustained antibiotic elution for effective prophylaxis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sustained release of gentamicin from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement incorporated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
- To evaluate the impact of CNTs on the mechanical, antimicrobial, and cytocompatibility properties of PMMA bone cement for PJI prophylaxis.
Main Methods:
- Gentamicin release kinetics were studied from PMMA bone cement with varying concentrations of CNTs, with or without preloading gentamicin onto functionalized CNTs.
- Mechanical properties, water uptake, and antimicrobial efficacy against relevant pathogens were assessed.
- Cytocompatibility was evaluated using human osteoblast cell lines through MTT, LDH assays, alizarin red staining, and morphology analysis.
Main Results:
- CNTs significantly prolonged gentamicin release from PMMA bone cement over several weeks compared to conventional gentamicin-loaded cement.
- The incorporation of CNTs enhanced the total percentage of gentamicin released without compromising essential mechanical or antimicrobial properties.
- Cytotoxicity assessments indicated that CNT-containing bone cement exhibited non-inferior performance compared to standard gentamicin powder-loaded cement.
Conclusions:
- Developed CNT-PMMA nanocomposites demonstrate prolonged antibiotic elution, offering a promising strategy for PJI prevention.
- These novel bone cements maintain critical performance characteristics while enhancing drug delivery for improved prophylaxis.
- The findings suggest a potential for these nanocomposites as an advanced material in orthopedic surgery to combat PJIs.
