Composite chitosan and calcium sulfate scaffold for dual delivery of vancomycin and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2014 Jun;25(6):1449-59. doi: 10.1007/s10856-014-5167-7. Epub 2014 Feb 7.

Abstract

A biodegradable, composite bone graft, composed of chitosan microspheres embedded in calcium sulfate, was evaluated in vitro for point-of-care loading and delivery of antibiotics and growth factors to prevent infection and stimulate healing in large bone injuries. Microspheres were loaded with rhBMP-2 or vancomycin prior to mixing into calcium sulfate loaded with vancomycin. Composites were evaluated for set time, drug release kinetics, and bacteriostatic/bactericidal activity of released vancomycin, induction of ALP expression by released rhBMP-2, and interaction of drugs on cells. Results showed the composite set in under 36 min and released vancomycin levels that were bactericidal to S. aureus (>MIC 8-16 μg/mL) for 18 days. Composites exhibited a 1 day-delayed release, followed by a continuous release of rhBMP-2 over 6 weeks; ranging from 0.06 to 1.49 ng/mL, and showed a dose dependent release based on initial loading. Released rhBMP-2 levels were, however, too low to induce detectable levels of ALP in W20-17 cells, due to the affinity of rhBMP-2 for calcium-based materials. With stimulating amounts of rhBMP-2 (>50 ng/mL), the ALP response from W-20-17 cells was inhibited when exposed to high vancomycin levels (1,800-3,600 μg/mL). This dual-delivery system is an attractive alternative to single delivery or preloaded systems for bone regeneration since it can simultaneously fight infection and deliver a potent growth factor. Additionally, this composite can accommodate a wide range of therapeutics and thus be customizable for specific patient needs, however, the potential interactive effects of multiple agents must be investigated to ensure that functional activity is not altered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Absorbable Implants
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / administration & dosage*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / chemistry
  • Bone Substitutes / administration & dosage
  • Bone Substitutes / chemical synthesis*
  • Calcium Sulfate / chemistry*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Diffusion
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Implants / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Implants / chemical synthesis
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Tissue Scaffolds*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / administration & dosage*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / chemistry
  • Vancomycin / administration & dosage*
  • Vancomycin / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Implants
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2
  • Vancomycin
  • Chitosan
  • Calcium Sulfate