Incorporation of an antibiotic in poly(lactic acid) and polypropylene by melt processing.
OBJECTIVE
In this work an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CFX), was incorporated into 2 different polymeric matrices, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polypropylene (PP), to provide them with antimicrobial properties. The influence of CFX content on release kinetics and on antimicrobial and mechanical properties was evaluated.


METHODS
CFX was incorporated into both the polymers by melt mixing.


RESULTS
The effect of CFX incorporation was found to strongly depend on which polymer matrix was used. In particular, the antimicrobial tests revealed that PLA samples containing CFX produced no inhibition zone and only a slight antibacterial activity was observed when the highest concentration of CFX was added to PLA. On the contrary, PP-based materials incorporating CFX, even those containing the smallest concentration of antibiotic, showed antimicrobial activity. These results were found to be in good agreement with the evaluation of the CFX release.


CONCLUSIONS
The negative findings of PLA-based systems are attributed to degradation phenomena that occur during the melt processing, involving some interaction between PLA and CFX. A proposed reaction mechanism between CFX and PLA occurring in the melt is presented.
Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Materials Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM of Palermo, Palermo - Italy.
Roberto
R
Scaffaro
Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Materials Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM of Palermo, Palermo - Italy.
Luigi
L
Botta
Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Materials Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM of Palermo, Palermo - Italy.
Andrea
A
Maio
Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo - Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Gallo
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011091:Polyesters; D011126:Polypropylenes; C033616:poly(lactide); D002939:Ciprofloxacin