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Gelatin-based nanoparticles and antibiotics: a new therapeutic approach for osteomyelitis?
Ali Sherafati Chaleshtori1,2, Zeynab Marzhoseyni3, Negin Saeedi4
1Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Abstract:
The result of infection of bone with microorganisms is osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for most of its cases (more than 50%). Since MRSA is resistant to many treatments, it is accompanied by high costs and numerous complications, necessitating more effective new treatments. Recently, development of gelatin nanoparticles have attracted the attention of scientists of biomedicine to itself, and have been utilized as a delivery vehicle for antibiotics because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness. Promising results have been reported with gelatin modification and combinations with chemical agents. Although these findings have been suggested that gelatin has the potential to be a suitable option for continuous release of antibiotics in osteomyelitis and septic arthritis treatment, they still have not become routine in clinical practices. The most deliver antibiotic using gelatin-derived composites is vancomycin which is showed the good efficacy. To date, a number of pre-clinical studies evaluated the utility of gelatin-based composites in the management of osteomyelitis. Gelatin-based composites were found to have satisfactory performance in the control of infection, as well as the promotion of bone defect repair in chronic osteomyelitis models. This review summarized the available evidence which provides a new insight into gelatin-derived composites with controlled release of antibiotics.
Insights
Gelatin nanoparticles show promise for treating bone infections like osteomyelitis caused by MRSA. These biodegradable carriers can deliver antibiotics effectively, aiding infection control and bone repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Infectious Diseases
- Materials Science
Background:
- Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis are bone infections often caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- MRSA infections present treatment challenges due to antibiotic resistance, leading to high costs and complications.
- Existing treatments are often insufficient, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence on gelatin-derived composites for controlled antibiotic release in treating bone infections.
- To explore the potential of gelatin nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles for osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.
Main Methods:
- Review of pre-clinical studies evaluating gelatin-based composites for osteomyelitis management.
- Analysis of gelatin modification and combinations with chemical agents for enhanced antibiotic delivery.
- Focus on vancomycin as a key antibiotic delivered via gelatin composites.
Main Results:
- Gelatin nanoparticles offer biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness as antibiotic delivery systems.
- Gelatin-based composites demonstrate satisfactory performance in controlling infections and promoting bone defect repair in chronic osteomyelitis models.
- Vancomycin delivered via gelatin composites shows good efficacy in pre-clinical evaluations.
Conclusions:
- Gelatin-derived composites represent a promising strategy for the continuous release of antibiotics in treating osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.
- Further development and clinical translation are needed to establish these materials in routine practice.
- Gelatin-based drug delivery systems offer a potential solution for challenging MRSA bone infections.

