Vancomycin–impregnated electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane for the treatment of infected bone defects: An animal study

Abstract

There is no consensus for the management of critical infected bone defects. The purpose of this study was to produce a vancomycin-impregnated electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane for the treatment of infected critical bone defects, and test it in a rabbit model. Electrospinning produced a resorbable PCL fiber membrane containing vancomycin approximately 1 mm in thickness, with a pore diameter of <10 μm. Femur defects were made in the limbs of 18 rabbits and infected with Staphylococcus aureus. The rabbits were divided into three groups according to treatment: (1) Experimental group: rabbit freeze-dried allogeneic bone graft and the vancomycin-PCL membrane. (2) Control group 1: bone graft. (3) Control group 2: vancomycin-PCL membrane only. Culture showed no difference in osteoclast activity between the three groups. Transwell testing showed that almost no fibroblasts passed through the membrane during the first 24 h, but some fibroblasts were able to pass it after 72 h. At 12 weeks after surgery, there was significantly less inflammatory cell infiltration in the experimental compared to the control groups. New bone formation and fracture bone callus were greater in the experimental group than control groups. We thus conclude the resorbable electrospun vancomycin-impregnated PCL membrane was effective at controlling bone infection, and in the regeneration of bone in a critical bone defect animal model.

Periodontal Tissues, Maxillary Jaw Bone, and Tooth Regeneration Approaches: From Animal Models Analyses to Clinical Applications

“…In the context of periodontal and bone regeneration, synthetic membranes should combine both mechanical and biological properties to prevent their collapse within the defect and, ultimately, being capable of delivering ‘at-site’, the biomolecules or cells with controlled release to promote regeneration. To achieve this goal, electrospinning technique has been used to synthesize membranes from PCL [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 33 ]. PCL membranes are biocompatible, bioresorbable, and non-toxic [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Review of the Applications of Biomedical Compositions Containing Hydroxyapatite and Collagen Modified by Bioactive Components

“…This drug is indicated for application in patients of all age groups in the treatment of such infections as complicated skin diseases and soft tissue infections [ 109 ], community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia [ 110 ], bone and joint infections [ 111 ], and infectious endocarditis [ 112 ]. There are many reports concerning investigations of the use of vancomycin for bone regeneration [ 113 , 114 , 115 ]. In such a case, an antibiotic is usually combined with hydroxyapatite, which provides an adequate bioactivity [ 116 ].…”

Biomimetic delivery of signals for bone tissue engineering

“… 15 An antibiotic (vancomycin) loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane has been developed as a DDS to control infection in a rabbit critical bone defect model. 101 This antibiotic-delivery membrane was effective in reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, controlling bone infection, and improving bone repair.…”