Emerging ideas: Interleukin-12 nanocoatings prevent open fracture-associated infections.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Infection is a major clinical complication of orthopaedic implants and prosthetic devices, and patients with traumatic open fractures have a high risk of infection that may exceed 30%. Surgical trauma, burns, and major injuries such as traumatic open fractures induce immunosuppression, decrease resistance to infection, and decrease production of T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines.

QUESTIONS/HYPOTHESES:

Exogenous interleukin-12 p70 (IL-12p70 or IL-12), a natural cytokine that plays a central role in Th1 response and bridges innate and adaptive immunities, will reduce open fracture-associated infection.

METHOD OF STUDY:

We propose using exogenous IL-12 nanocoating to restore or enhance the body's natural defense system to combat pathogens. Rats will have a femur fractured, inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus or injected with phosphate buffered saline, left open for 1 hour, and then fixed with an intramedullary Kirschner wire with or without IL-12 nanocoating. Animals will be euthanized at postoperative Day 21; samples of blood, soft tissue, bone, and draining lymph nodes will be collected. Infection, bone healing, and local and systemic responses will be determined.

SIGNIFICANCE:

IL-12 nanocoating is a promising prophylactic means to modulate the host immune response to help prevent open fracture-associated infections and to avoid the problem of antibiotic resistance.

• Authors: Bingyun Li, Anne L McKeague
• Journal: Clinical orthopaedics and related research (Clin Orthop Relat Res) Vol. 469 Issue 11 Pg. 3262-5 (Nov 2011) ISSN: 1528-1132 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21104353 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Coated Materials, Biocompatible
• Interleukin-12

Topics

• Animals
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Interleukin-12 (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Nanotechnology (methods)
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (prevention & control)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Research Design