Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been studied recently as a
drug carrier in prevent implant
infections due to its biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties, but most of these studies failed to control infection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of this impurity-free novel HA nanotube as a carrier for
drug delivery in a controlled manner.
Gentamicin was selected as an
antibiotic to study the
drug-carrier properties of this novel HA nanotube.
Gentamicin was introduced into the HA nanotubes through immersion and evaporation process.
Gentamicin-loaded HA nanotubes were then placed in
phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and drug release profile was then monitored by measuring free genntamicin in the
solution. An initial burst release of the
drug occurred in the first 24 hours; subsequently, 84.7% of the
drug was released from the nanotubes in 9 days. After 13 d, the concentrations of released
drug were measured close to 2 μg/ml. The porosity of the
gentamicin-loaded HA nanotubes was also observed using a Hitachi s-4800 high-resolution SEM, further confirming the
drug-carrier property of HA nanotubes. Our novel
bone substitute is an effective prophylactic tool for the local delivery of
gentamicin to prevent periprosthetic
infections.