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Vancomycin-Loaded 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid-Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Sara Pérez-Davila1,2, Carmen Potel-Alvarellos2,3, Raquel Carballo2,3
1CINTECX, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo Novos Materiais, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
Polymers
|November 14, 2023
Summary
This study developed 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA)-hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds loaded with vancomycin to prevent infections and promote bone regeneration. The scaffolds showed significant antibacterial activity and were cytocompatible, offering personalized solutions for bone repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Bone regeneration and infection prevention are critical challenges in biomedical applications.
- Personalized, multifunctional scaffolds are needed for complex geometries and localized treatment.
- 3D printing of polylactic acid (PLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) offers customizable, osseointegrative scaffolds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop vancomycin-loaded 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds for dual functionality: infection prevention and personalized bone regeneration.
- To evaluate three vancomycin loading methodologies: dip coating, drop coating, and direct incorporation during 3D printing.
- To assess the release kinetics, antibacterial/antibiofilm activity, and cytocompatibility of the vancomycin-loaded scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds using polylactic acid and hydroxyapatite.
- Incorporation of vancomycin via dip coating, drop coating, and direct 3D printing methods.
- Characterization of drug release profiles, antibacterial efficacy against *Staphylococcus aureus*, antibiofilm activity, and cell viability.
Main Results:
- All three vancomycin loading methods yielded functional drug-releasing scaffolds with significant antibacterial effects.
- Dip and drop coating methods resulted in burst release (80-90% in 60 min) followed by sustained release up to 48 hours.
- Direct 3D printing incorporation achieved extended vancomycin release beyond 7 days, correlating with polymer degradation.
- Scaffolds demonstrated effective antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against *Staphylococcus aureus*.
- Cytocompatibility assays confirmed the safety of vancomycin-loaded scaffolds for cellular applications.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds loaded with vancomycin are feasible for localized infection prevention and bone regeneration.
- The choice of loading methodology influences vancomycin release kinetics, offering tunable drug delivery profiles.
- These multifunctional scaffolds hold promise for personalized orthopedic and dental applications, addressing critical clinical needs.
