Biodegradation and cytotoxicity of ciprofloxacin-loaded hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone nanocomposite film for sustainable bone implants.
BACKGROUND
In recent years there has been a steep increase in the number of orthopedic patients for many reasons. One major reason is osteomyelitis, caused by pyrogenic bacteria, with progressive infection of the bone or bone marrow and surrounding tissues. So antibiotics must be introduced during bone implantation to avoid prolonged infection.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study reported here was to prepare a composite film of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) and polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer loaded with ciprofloxacin, a frequently used antibiotic agent for bone infections.


METHODS
Nanocrystalline HAp was synthesized by precipitation method using the precursor obtained from eggshell. The nanocomposite film (HAp-PCL-ciprofloxacin) was prepared by solvent evaporation. Drug-release and biodegradation studies were undertaken by immersing the composite film in phosphate-buffered saline solution, while a cytotoxicity test was performed using the fibroblast cell line NIH-3T3 and osteoblast cell line MG-63.


RESULTS
The pure PCL film had quite a low dissolution rate after an initial sharp weight loss, whereas the ciprofloxacin-loaded HAp-PCL nanocomposite film had a large weight loss due to its fast drug release. The composite film had higher water absorption than the pure PCL, and increasing the concentration of the HAp increased the water absorption. The in vitro cell-line study showed a good biocompatibility and bioactivity of the developed nanocomposite film.


CONCLUSIONS
The prepared film will act as a sustainable bone implant in addition to controlled drug delivery.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India.
Rajendran
R
Nithya
Department of Biomedical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India.
Nachiappan
N
Meenakshi Sundaram
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; C016240:polycaprolactone; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D017886:Durapatite
antibiotics; cytotoxicity; fibroblast; in vitro; nanocrystalline; osteomyelitis