Poly- D, L-lactide and levofloxacin-blended beads: A sustained local releasing system to treat osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is the inflammation of bone which is treated by a high dose of antibiotics given intravenously for 4-6 weeks. However, at present locally administered antibiotic such as gentamicin poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bead is nonbiodegradable and a secondary surgery is often inevitable. This study described the biodegradable material poly- D, L-lactide (PLA) with 80 kDa molecular weight that could be used as a potential antibiotic carrier for local drug release. PLA was first dissolved in tetrahydrofuran followed by blending with levofloxacin (LFX) in a physical way. The blend was then molded into beads. The optimized weight ratio between PLA and LFX was designated as 45 : 15. Glass transition temperature and surface ultramicrostructure of the beads were measured. In vitro tests of drug release and bacteriostasis demonstrated that the PLA-LFX beads released high concentrations of antibiotic for the period of time (i.e., 6 weeks), which is needed to treat bone infection. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]