abstract
Several types of biodegradable materials have been investigated for the treatment of osteomyelitis. Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics are among the most performing materials due to their resemblance to human hard tissues in terms of mineralogical composition, and proven ability to adsorb and deliver a number of drugs. This research work was intended to study the suitability of modified CaP powders loaded with a fluoroquinolone as drug delivery systems for osteomyelitis treatment. Levofloxacin (LEV) was chosen due to the well-recognized antistaphylococcal activity and adequate penetration into osteoarticular tissues. Substituted CaP powders (5 mol% Sr2+ or 5 mol% Mg2+) were synthesised through aqueous precipitation. The obtained powders were characterised by X-ray diffraction, SEM and FTIR analysis. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of HA and beta-tricalcium phosphates (beta-TCP) phases in doped compositions, especially in the case of Mg-doped system. The fixation of LEV at the surface of the particles occurred only by physisorption. Both the in vitro microbiological susceptibility, against Staphylococcus spp, and biocompatibility of LEV-loaded CaP powders have not been compromised.
keywords
BETA-TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE; DELIVERY-SYSTEM; IN-VITRO; DRUG-DELIVERY; BONE-CEMENT; EXPERIMENTAL OSTEOMYELITIS; DEFICIENT APATITE; RELEASE KINETICS; HYDROXYAPATITE; INFECTION
subject category
Engineering; Materials Science
authors
Marques, CF; Matos, AC; Ribeiro, IAC; Goncalves, LM; Bettencourt, A; Ferreira, JMF
our authors
Catarina Fernandes Marques
PhD Student
José Maria da Fonte Ferreira
Retired Professoracknowledgements
The authors thank CICECO and CBC PEst-OE/SAU/UI0482/2014, Research Units of the University of Aveiro, iMed.ULisboa, Research Unit of Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (strategic project PEst-OE/SAU/UI4013/2014) for financial support, and also FCT for the fellowship Grant to Catarina Marques (SFRH/BD/78355/2011).