Fabrication of antibacterial carbonate apatite bone cement starting from vaterite, monetite and disodium hydrogenphosphate with gentamicin sulfate

The present article describes the fabrication of a bioresorbable, antibacterial bone cement comprising carbonate apatite (CO₃Ap) and gentamicin sulfate (GNT). We focused on a fast-setting CO₃Ap cement using vaterite and monetite as raw powders and Na₂HPO₄ as a mixing solution, to which we added GNT. The initial setting time, physical properties, drug release property, antibacterial property, and in vivo bioresorbability and biocompatibility of the CO₃Ap cements were evaluated. The addition of GNT decreased the initial setting time without affecting the other physical properties of the set cements. Moreover, the GNT-loaded CO₃Ap cements demonstrated potential for drug sustained-release and prevented the growth of Escherichia coli. In vivo studies, the cement formed osteoconductive connections with the bone-like tissues in rat tibia; however, delayed bioresorption was observed. Based on these results, we conclude that GNT-loaded CO₃Ap cements that reduce the risk of surgical site infection are potential candidates for bioabsorbable bone cement.