Abstract
Background
Antibiotic-loaded cement has been used over decades as a local antibiotic delivery for the treatment of bone and joint infections. However, there were some disadvantages such as unpredictable elution, insufficient local concentration and reduced mechanical strength. We developed hydrophilized bone cement and investigated whether it can improve consistent antibiotic release for extended periods to be effective in eradicating joint infection without any changes of mechanical strength.
Methods
The experiments consists of preparation of the hydrophilized, vancomycin-loaded bone cement, In vitro test including drug release behavior, mechanical properties by compression test, cytotoxicity, antibacterial effect and animal study. In animal study, Antibiotic cement rod was implanted in the femur of rat osteomyelitis model. Sign of infections were assessed by gross observation, Micro CT and blood analysis at indicated period.
Results
The hydrophilized Vancomycin-loaded bone cements showed that continuous release of Vancomycin even over 6 weeks in the drug release test, sufficient mechanical strengths in the compression test and also better anti-bacterial effect compared to other commercially available bone cement. The animal study demonstrated that it has superior inhibition of bacterial proliferation according to imaging and blood analysis compared to control group.
Conclusion:
As a results from both in vitro test and animal study, hydrophilized antibiotic bone cement may provide favorable environment to control bone and joint infection by continuous antibiotic release for extended period.
