Cephalexin-Loaded Injectable Macroporous Calcium Phosphate Bone Cement

Different types of calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) have been studied as potential matrices for incorporating different types of antibiotics. All of these matrices were morphologically microporous whereas macroporosity is essential for rapid cement resorption and bone replacement. In this study, liberation of cephalexin monohydrate (CMH) from a macroporous CPC was investigated over 0.5-300 h in simulated body fluid and some mathematical models were fitted to the release profiles. Macroporosity was introduced into the cement matrix by using sodium dodecyl sulfate molecules as air-entraining agents and the effect of both surfactant and CMH on basic properties of the CPC was studied. Incorporation of CMH into the CPC composition increased the setting time, decreased the crystallinity of the formed apatite phase, and improved the injectability of the paste. The use of both CMH and sodium dodecyl sulfate did not affect the rate of conversion of the reactants into apatite phase while soaking the cements in simulated body fluid. Results showed that the liberation rate of the drug from porous CPC was higher than that of the nonporous CPC but same release patterns were experienced in both types of cements, that is, like to nonporous CPC, a time-dependent controlled release of the incorporated drug was obtained from macroporous CPC. The Weibull model was the best fitting-equation for release profiles of all cements. The liberated CMH was as active as fresh cephalexin. It is concluded that this macroporous CPC can be successfully used as drug carrier with controlled release profile for the treatment of bone infections. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 8913: 342-352, 2009