Vancomycin covalently bonded to titanium alloy prevents bacterial colonization

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Abstract

Periprosthetic infection is a devastating consequence of implant insertion and can arise from hematogenous sources or surgical contamination. Microbes can preferentially colonize the implant surface and, by forming a biofilm, escape immune surveillance. We hypothesized that if an antibiotic can be tethered to a titanium alloy (Ti) surface, it will inhibit bacterial colonization, prevent biofilm formation, and avert late-stage infection. To test this hypothesis, a Ti rod was covalently derivatized with vancomycin. Reaction efficiencies were evaluated by colorimetric and spectrophotometric measurements. The vancomycin-modified surface was stable in aqueous solutions over extended time periods and maintained antibiotic coverage, even after press-fit insertion into a cadaverous rat femora. When evaluated using fluorescently labeled bacteria, or by direct colony counts, the surface-bound antibiotic prevented bacterial colonization in vitro after: (1) exposure to high levels of S. aureus; (2) extended incubation in physiological buffers; and (3) repeated bacterial challenges. Importantly, whereas the vancomycin-derivitized pins prevented bacterial colonization, S. aureus adhered to control pins, even in the presence of concentrations of vancomycin that exceeded the strain MIC. These results demonstrate that we have effectively engineered a stable, bactericidal Ti surface. This surface holds great promise in terms of mitigating or preventing periprosthetic infection. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of Orthopaedic Research

Volume

25

Issue

7

First Page

858

Last Page

866

Comments

This article was published in Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Volume 25, Issue 7, Pages 858-866.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jor.20348.

Copyright © 2007.

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