Influence of Antibiotic-Impregnated Biomaterials on Inflammatory Cytokines

Local antibiotic therapy has several advantages over systemic antibiotic treatment. Using antibiotics in local biomaterial systems can reduce the number of microorganisms that can adhere to implanted biomaterials. In this in vitro study, antibacterial properties of hydroxyapatite biomaterials impregnated with antibiotics and biodegradable polymers were examined. The antibacterial efficiency of hydroxyapatite biomaterials impregnated with antibiotics and biodegradable polymers against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied by evaluating the expression of inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-10 (IL-10), -defensin-2 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-)) in tissue surrounding implanted biomaterials in vivo. The results of this study demonstrated that hydroxyapatite biomaterials impregnated with antibiotics and biodegradable polymers had a prolonged antibacterial effect in comparison to biomaterials without biodegradable polymers. Surrounding tissue displayed higher levels of inflammatory cytokines when implanted biomaterials had not been previously impregnated with antibiotics.