title: An antibacterial and absorbable silk-based fixation material with impressive mechanical properties and biocompatibility.
abstract: Implant-associated infections and non-absorbing materials are two important reasons for a second surgical procedure to remove internal fixation devices after an orthopedic internal fixation surgery. The objective of this study was to produce an antibacterial and absorbable fixation screw by adding gentamicin to silk-based materials. The antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro by plate cultivation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also investigated the properties, such as the mechanical features, swelling properties, biocompatibility and degradation, of gentamicin-loaded silk-based screws (GSS) in vitro. The GSS showed significant bactericidal effects against S. aureus and E. coli. The antibacterial activity remained high even after 4 weeks of immersion in protease solution. In addition, the GSS maintained the remarkable mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility of pure silk-based screws (PSS). Interestingly, after gentamicin incorporation, the degradation rate and water-absorbing capacity increased and decreased, respectively. These GSS provide both impressive material properties and antibacterial activity and have great potential for use in orthopedic implants to reduce the incidence of second surgeries.
authors.affiliation: Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.|Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chenglong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.|No. 188 hospital of People's Liberation Army, Chaozhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Guan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xinglong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.|The Central Hospital of Yong Zhou, Yongzhou, China.
authors.forename: Baoliang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qingshui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.|Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D065966:Absorption, Physicochemical; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012831:Bombyx; D001863:Bone Screws; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D047011:Silk / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005839:Gentamicins; D047011:Silk