The Level of Inflammatory Cytokines and Antimicrobial Peptides after Composite Material Implantation and Contamination with Bacterial Culture

As biomaterial implantation is a traumatic process, especially if the implanted object becomes contaminated by bacteria, it can cause a significant increase in the production of inflammatory cytokines. An increase in the level of inflammatory cytokines can be used as a marker of biomaterial associated infection (BAI) in surrounding tissues. To prevent BAI and production of inflammatory cytokines, biomaterials with antibiotics should be used, in particular biomaterials with prolonged release of antibiotics. In this in vivo study, the level of inflammatory cytokines (interleukine – 10 (IL-10), beta-defensin-2 and tumor necrosis factors (TNF-alpha)) was determined in surrounding tissues after composite material implantation in vivo and wound contamination with Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The results show that the level of inflammatory cytokines is normal in surrounding tissues after implantation of biomaterials with prolonged release of antibiotics. Biomaterials with rapid release of antibiotics also show normal levels of inflammatory cytokines. The level of inflammatory cytokines increases in cases if biomaterials without antibiotics are implanted in vivo, thus being an indication of inflammation process and BAI.