A therapeutic delivery system for chronic osteomyelitis via a multi-drug implant based on three-dimensional printing technology. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Weigang; Ye, Chenyi; Zheng, Qixin; Wu, Gui; Cheng, Zhaohui
• Is Part Of: Journal of biomaterials applications. Volume 31:Number 2(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Three-dimensional printing technique -- rapid prototyping -- drug implant -- local drug delivery -- chronic osteomyelitis; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1177/0885328216640660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3282

Abstract

Chronic osteomyelitis is difficult to be cured and often relapses, which presents to be a great challenge to clinicians. We conducted this original study to explore the efficiency of therapeutic alliance for chronic osteomyelitis by a multi-drug implant based on three-dimensional printing technology. We designed and fabricated preciously a multi-drug implant with a multi-layered concentric cylinder construction by three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. Levofloxacin and tobramycin were incorporated into the drug implant in a specific sequence. The drug release property of the drug implant was assayed in vitro . We also developed an animal model of chronic osteomyelitis to estimate the effect of the 3D printed multi-drug implant. The results showed that the multi-drug implant had a sustained and programmed drug release property. Levofloxacin and tobramycin which were released from the multi-drug implant worked in tandem to enhance pharmacodynamic action which was similar to a tumor chemotherapy program and were sufficient to treat chronic osteomyelitis. These findings imply that the administration of 3D printed multi-drug implant would be a potential therapeutic method for chronic osteomyelitis. Further studies are required.