Antibacterial Vancomycin@ZIF-8 Loaded PVA Nanofiber Membrane for Infected Bone Repair.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Severe bone infections like osteomyelitis require effective treatments combining antibacterial properties with bone regeneration.
• Developing advanced bone substitutes is crucial for addressing challenges in treating bone tissue infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a pH-responsive composite bone filler incorporating vancomycin (Van) within zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy, drug release kinetics, and biocompatibility of the developed PVA/V@Z composite bone filler.

Main Methods:

• Vancomycin (Van) was loaded into ZIF-8 to form V@Z composite particles.
• V@Z particles were incorporated into PVA fibers using electrospinning to create PVA/V@Z composite membranes.
• Antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus were assessed at physiological (pH 7.4) and infected (pH 6.5) conditions.
• Biocompatibility was evaluated by assessing MC3T3-E1 cell spreading on the membranes.

Main Results:

• The drug-loading rate of V@Z was approximately 6.735%.
• The PVA/V@Z membranes demonstrated super hydrophilicity, water absorption, and pH-controlled vancomycin release.
• The composite showed significant antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, achieving up to 99% bacterial inhibition.
• The material exhibited good biocompatibility and promoted MC3T3-E1 cell spreading.

Conclusions:

• The developed PVA/V@Z composite bone filler effectively releases vancomycin in response to pH changes associated with infection.
• This novel material demonstrates superior antibacterial efficacy compared to single-agent loaded membranes, making it a promising candidate for treating bone infections.
• The composite's biocompatibility and ability to support cell growth indicate its potential for bone tissue regeneration applications.