A bioactive sol-gel glass implant for in vivo gentamicin release. Experimental model in Rabbit.

Biomaterial pieces with osteogenic properties, suitable for use in the treatment of bone defects, were synthesized. The materials, which avoid bone infections, are exclusively composed of gentamicin sulfate and bioactive SiO2-CaO-P2O5 sol-gel glass (synthesized previously), and were manufactured by means of uniaxial and isostatic pressure of the mixed components. After implanting the pieces into rabbit femur, we studied (1) antibiotic release, determining the concentration in proximal and distal bone, liver, kidney, and lung as a function of time, and (2) bone growth as a consequence of the glass reactivity in the biological environment. The results demonstrated that the implants are good carriers for local gentamicin release into the local osseous tissue, where they show excellent biocompatibility and bone integration. Moreover, these implants are able to promote bone growth during the resorption process.

Bioactivity in glass/PMMA composites used as drug delivery system.

Gentamicin sulfate has been incorporated in composites prepared from a SiO2-CaO-P2O5 bioactive glass and polymethylmethacrylate. Data showed that these materials could be used as drug delivery system, keeping the bioactive behavior of the glass. The composites supply high doses of the antibiotic during the first hours when they are soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF). Thereafter, a slower drug release is produced, supplying 'maintenance' doses until the end of the experiment. The gentamicin release rate is related with the ionic Ca2+ and H3O+ exchange between composite and SBF. The porous structure of the composites allows the growth of hydroxycarbonate apatite on the surface and into the pores.

Bioactive glass-polymer materials for controlled release of ibuprofen.

The ibuprofen (IB) release from samples composed by SiO2-CaO-P2O5 bioactive glass, poly-L-lactic acid (PLA), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been studied. Data showed a fast anti-inflammatory drug release during the first 8h when these polyphasic materials are soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF). The analysis of the samples before and after different soaking periods in SBF demonstrates the growth of an apatite-like layer on the materials surface. The IB release rate is related with the growth kinetics of this layer, that is slower when the materials do not contain the biodegradable polymer PLA. On the other hand, different IB and/or glass contents do not affect the in vitro behavior of these materials.

Preparation and in vitro bioactivity of hydroxyapatite/solgel glass biphasic material.

Hydroxyapatite/solgel glass biphasic material has been obtained in order to improve the bioactivity of the hydroxyapatite (OHAp). A mixture of stoichiometric OHAp and the precursor gel of a solgel glass, with nominal composition in mol% CaO-26, SiO2-70, P205-4, has been prepared. The amounts of components used have been selected to obtain a final relationship for OHAp/solgel glass of 60/40 on heating. Two different thermal treatments have been used: (i) 700 degrees C, temperature of solgel glass stabilisation and (ii) 1000 degrees C, lower temperature of hydroxyapatite sintering. The bioactivity of the resulting materials has been examined in vitro by immersion in simulated body fluid at 37 degrees C. The results obtained show that both materials are bioactive. The apatite-like layer grown is greater for the new materials than for the OHAp and the solgel glass themselves.

Ibuprofen release from hydrophilic ceramic-polymer composites.

Two composite systems composed of alpha-Al2O3/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/ibuprofen or alpha-Al2O3/PMMA/co-vinyl pyrrolidone-methyl methacrylate/ibuprofen were prepared by free radical polymerization. These systems were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The hydration behaviour of composites with different hydrophilic characters was analysed after the immersion of the composites in buffered solution at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The swelling of the composites depends strongly on the content of the hydrophilic component and is controlled by the presence of the ceramic component. The release of the anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, from the composites in buffered solution was followed by UV spectroscopy and the results obtained indicated that the components of the composites influenced the rate of release of the drug, without the classical 'burst' effect observed frequently with hydrophilic systems.

In vitro bioactivity and gentamicin release from glass-polymer-antibiotic composites.

Composite materials have been prepared from bioactive glass powders in the SiO(2)-CaO-P(2)O(5) system, a biodegradable polymer [poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA)], a biostable polymer [polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)], and an antibiotic [gentamicin]. The purpose of such composites is to obtain implantable materials that are able to lead to bone growth and also can, at the most critical inflammation-infection step, release an antibiotic. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, and FTIR analyses after different soaking periods in SBF demonstrated the growth of an apatite-like layer on the composite surface. Therefore the bioactive glass-polymer-antibiotic combination used in this work does not inhibit the glass bioactivity. The release of gentamicin after a soaking of the materials in SBF was followed by UV-visible spectroscopy. A fast initial release during the first 10 h of soaking, followed by a controlled release of the drug was observed.

XRD, SEM-EDS, and FTIR studies of in vitro growth of an apatite-like layer on sol-gel glasses.

A glass with a composition (in mole %) of: SiO2 (70), CaO (26), and P2O5 (4) was obtained using a sol-gel method. The in vitro bioactivity of the glass was assessed by determining the changes in surface morphology and composition after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for periods of up to 14 days at 37 degrees C. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, and FTIR analyses of the glass surface after different soaking periods in SBF demonstrated the growth of an apatite-like layer on the glass surface. In the first stage, an amorphous calcium phosphate layer was formed; after 7 days this surface consisted of spheres, with diameters ranging between 2 and 15 microm, composed of needle-like apatite crystallites (250 x 100 nm) with a crystallinity similar to that of a biological apatite.

Preparation, characterization, and in vitro release of ibuprofen from AI2O3/PLA/PMMA composites.

The preparation, characterization, and in vitro release of Ibuprofen from Al2O3, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composites are described. The release process of the anti-inflammatory drug after the immersion of composites in a buffered solution is analyzed. The rate of Ibuprofen release is related to the crystalline or amorphous form of the drug. The presence of a ceramic component, alpha-Al2O3, and a biodegradable polymer, PLLA, facilitates both Ibuprofen crystallization and drug release. In addition, these composite systems modulate the release of the stereoisomers R(-) and S(+) of the drug.

Biocompatibility and in vivo gentamicin release from bioactive sol-gel glass implants.

Biomaterial pieces, with suitable osteogenic properties for use in the treatment of bone defects and the capability to avoid bone infections, have been synthesized. These materials are composed exclusively of gentamicin sulfate and bioactive SiO(2)-CaO-P(2)O(5) sol-gel glass (previously synthesized). Implant processing was achieved by uniaxial and isostatic pressure of the components mixture. After implanting the pieces into rabbit femur, we studied (i) the antibiotic release, determining the concentration in proximal and distal bone, liver, kidney, and lung as a function of time; and (ii) the bone growth resulting from the glass reactivity in the biologic environment. The results indicate that the implants are good carriers for local gentamicin release in the osseous tissue, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and bone integration. Moreover, these implants are able to promote bone growth during their resorption process.