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Published on: February 23, 2024
Vancomycin-loaded methylcellulose aerogel scaffolds for advanced bone tissue engineering
Ana Iglesias-Mejuto1, Beatriz Magariños2, Tânia Ferreira-Gonçalves3
1AerogelsLab, I+D Farma Group (GI-1645), Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, iMATUS and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
This study introduces 3D-printed, nanostructured aerogels for bone tissue engineering (BTE). These scaffolds combine bone repair with infection management, offering a personalized approach to bone regeneration and antibiotic delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Bone defects require treatments that promote regeneration and prevent infection.
- Current strategies often address bone repair and infection separately.
- Personalized medicine approaches are needed for effective bone defect management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel 3D-printed, nanostructured, and personalized aerogels for simultaneous bone regeneration and infection control.
- To investigate the use of methylcellulose-nanohydroxyapatite (MC-nHA) aerogels loaded with vancomycin (VAN).
- To evaluate the efficacy of these aerogels in bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of MC-nHA aerogels using 3D-printing and supercritical (sc)CO2 drying.
- Loading of vancomycin (VAN) into the aerogel scaffolds.
- Characterization of textural properties, printing fidelity, drug release kinetics, bioactivity, and mineralization.
- In vitro and in vivo toxicity assessments (Artemia salina).
- Antimicrobial efficacy testing against Staphylococcus aureus.
Main Results:
- Successfully manufactured drug-loaded, nanostructured, personalized MC-nHA aerogels via 3D-printing and scCO2 technology.
- Demonstrated controlled vancomycin release and long-term bioactivity, promoting pre-osteoblast mineralization.
- Exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and low toxicity in cell and in vivo studies.
- Maintained textural stability after 7 months of storage.
Conclusions:
- The developed aerogels effectively promote bone repair and manage infection simultaneously.
- The 3D-printing and scCO2 approach allows for personalized scaffolds with tunable drug dosage and porosity.
- This technology offers a promising two-in-one solution for bone tissue engineering and infection management.
