Andamio avanzado de quitosano/hidroxiapatita/SiO','2' mesoporoso cargado con gentamicina: una investigación exhaustiva de la administración de fármacos y las interacciones celulares

Implant-related infections associated with bone implants are a common problem, and traditional antibiotic treatments may cause side effects before the infection at the implant site is cleared. This study aims to develop a biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold that supports bone regeneration while providing localized and controlled antibiotic delivery. Chitosan/hydroxyapatite (CSHA) scaffolds reinforced with mesoporous SiO₂ particles were fabricated via freeze-drying. All scaffolds exhibited interconnected pores, with pore sizes of approximately 340 μm in pure chitosan scaffolds, which decreased to around 90 μm in CSHA scaffolds containing mesoporous SiO₂ particles. Adding mesoporous SiO₂ particles to CSHA scaffolds improved structural strength, increasing the compressive strength from 3.8 ± 0.7 MPa to 22.1 ± 0.8 MPa. The water absorption ratio decreased from 3.9 ± 0.04 to 0.3 ± 0.07, and the 14-day degradation rate dropped from 32% to 20.8%. CSHA scaffolds containing mesoporous particles maintained cell viability above 98% after 7 days and released gentamicin in a controlled manner, with drug-release kinetics best described by the Weibull model. Antimicrobial tests showed strong antibacterial activity in the reinforced scaffolds against Escherichia coli. Overall, CSHA scaffolds with mesoporous SiO₂ particles offer a promising option for bone tissue engineering and infection control at the implantation site.