title: Elution characteristics and mechanical properties of calcium sulfate-loaded bone cement containing teicoplanin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acrylic bone cement is the most widely used drug delivery system clinically. It has already been shown that antibiotic release is significantly increased when calcium sulfate-loaded acrylic bone cement is used. However, there is no information yet about the mechanical responses of these composite materials. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium sulfate on the elution characteristics and mechanical behavior of teicoplanin-loaded acrylic bone cement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of acrylic bone cements (GI, GII, GIII, GIV) were prepared using the same liquid/powder ratios. After mixing, the bone cement and additive mixtures were packed into different-type molds to prepare the specimens for the elution and mechanical tests. All of the specimens were tested for two conditions (dry and human plasma solution). The mechanical tests included the setting time (hardness) and tensile, bending, and compression strengths. The fracture surfaces of the failed samples were also examined by scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teicoplanin release in the calcium sulfate powder added groups (GIII and GIV) was higher than that of GII. When the calcium sulfate and teicoplanin were added on acrylic bone cement, the compressive, bending and tensile strength, hardness values, and elastic modulus decreased. Also, further reductions were evident in human plasma solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although mechanical properties of tested specimens decreased, all of the results obtained were higher than those required by the American Society for Testing and Materials Standards, but further investigations are necessary before making definitive statements for clinical applications.
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Duzce Medical School, Konuralp 81620, Duzce, Turkey.
authors: Tolga
authors: T
authors: Tuzuner
authors: Ilyas
authors: I
authors: Uygur
authors: Irfan
authors: I
authors: Sencan
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Haklar
authors: Birhan
authors: B
authors: Oktas
authors: Davut
authors: D
authors: Ozdemir
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D017334:Teicoplanin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D017334:Teicoplanin; D002133:Calcium Sulfate