Mechanical property, antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility of a PMMA-based bone cement loaded with clindamycin for orthopaedic surgeries

Local delivery of antibiotics utilising bone cement is a well-known approach for controlling postoperative infections related to implant. 1, 5 and 10 wt.% of clindamycin (Cli) was embedded into polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based bone cement for inhibiting postsurgical infection. Clindamycin antibiotic drug was homogeneously embedded into the matrix of PMMA-based cement. The results revealed that the fabricated PMMA-based cement loaded with Cli presented a high compressive strength (similar to 120 MPa). The PMMA-based cement loaded with low Cli presented better cytocompatibility compared with its counterpart loaded with high Cli owing to the better cell attachment on the surface of the cement with a lower release of Cli. The embedding of Cli into the cement improved its antibacterial performance, as implied by the considerably improved inhibition zone with amplifying Cli concentration. Taken together, PMMA-based cement loaded with 1-5 wt% Cli might be a promising antimicrobial bone cement to be employed in orthopaedic surgeries.

Automated summary

The study found that PMMA-based cement loaded with clindamycin demonstrated high compressive strength, while the cement with lower clindamycin content showed better cell compatibility and improved antibacterial performance.