Sustained Antibiotic Release from Biodegradable Gelatin-Silica Hybrid for Orthopedic Infections

Antibiotic-loaded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads are commonly employed to treat prosthetic joint infections (PJI) and chronic osteomyelitis due to their excellent mechanical strength. However, PMMA's non-degradability results in a burst release of antibiotics and potential renal toxicity, necessitating additional surgeries for bead removal. There is a critical need for infection control materials that can deliver antibiotics effectively, maintain adequate mechanical strength, and degrade uniformly. This study introduces a gelatin-silica hybrid antibiotic carrier, characterized by covalent bonds between the gelatin and silica networks. The incorporation of the silica network enhances the compressive strength to 32.53 +/- 2.4 MPa and ensures uniform degradation over 6 months, aligning with clinical timelines. Furthermore, the gelatin-silica hybrid can support up to 10 wt% antibiotic loading without compromising its properties, making it a promising candidate for next-generation infection control materials. A gelatin-silica hybrid is developed as a carrier to facilitate controlled degradation and ensure the sustained, homogeneous release of antibiotics. Concurrently, it offers exceptional mechanical properties for the management of orthopedic infections. image