Vancomycin-loaded silk fibroin microspheres in an injectable hydrogel for chronic osteomyelitis therapy

Peng Zhang; Yusheng Sun; Haizhen Yang; Dong Liu; Feng Zhang; Yu Zhang; Wentao Zhong; Baoqi Zuo; Zhiqiang Zhou

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1163933

Vancomycin-loaded silk fibroin microspheres in an injectable hydrogel for chronic osteomyelitis therapy

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Jun 1:11:1163933. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1163933. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Peng Zhang^{1

2

3}, Yusheng Sun², Haizhen Yang⁴, Dong Liu¹, Feng Zhang², Yu Zhang¹, Wentao Zhong¹, Baoqi Zuo², Zhiqiang Zhou¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
² National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
⁴ Health Management Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic osteomyelitis remains a clinical challenge in orthopedics. Methods: In this study, silk fibroin microspheres (SFMPs) loaded with vancomycin are entrapped in an injectable silk hydrogel to form a vancomycin delivery system for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. Results and Discussion: Vancomycin showed continuous release from the hydrogel for up to 25 days. The hydrogel shows strong antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and a long antibacterial duration of 10 days without a decrease in the antibacterial effect. The injection of vancomycin-loaded silk fibroin microspheres entrapped in the hydrogel into the infected site of rat tibia reduced bone infection and improved bone regeneration compared with other treatment groups. Conclusion: Thus, the composite SF hydrogel features a sustained-release profile and good biocompatibility, making it promising for application in osteomyelitis treatment.

Keywords: chronic osteomyelitis; hydrogel; microspheres; silk fibroin; vancomycin.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Project of State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University (GZK1202128); Suzhou Scientific Research Foundation of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (SKJYD2021220); Suzhou Health Talent Plan (GSWS2021019).