boron and Osteomyelitis

Treatment of osteomyelitis by conventional antibiotics has proven to be challenging due to limited accessibility to this unique location. Inorganic routes against bacterial infection have been reported for external and topical applications, however in vivo application of these antimicrobials has not been fully explored. Targeted delivery of metallic nanoparticles with inherent antimicrobial activity represents an alternative means of overcoming the challenges posed by multidrug-resistant bacteria and may potentially reduce overall morbidity. In this study we utilized silver-copper-boron composite nanoparticles in an attempt to eradicate S. aureus bone infection in mice. Our results demonstrate effective response when nanoparticles were administered via i.v. or i.m. route (1mg/kg dose) where 99% of bacteria were eliminated in an induced osteomyelitis mouse model. The 1mg/kg dose was neither toxic nor produced any adverse immune response, hence it is believed that metallic nanoparticles present an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of bone infection.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Bone and Bones; Boron; Copper; Female; Metal Nanoparticles; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Osteomyelitis; Silver; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

The effectiveness of a degradable and bioactive borate glass has been compared with the clinically used calcium sulfate in the treatment of osteomyelitis of rabbits, as a carrier for vancomycin. The bone infections were induced in the tibias of 65 rabbits by injecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). After 3 weeks, these rabbits were distributed into 4 groups and treated by debridement. Pure borate glass (BG), vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate (VCS) and vancomycin-loaded borate glass (VBG) were implanted into the infection sites of groups 2 to 4 respectively. After 8 weeks, the effectiveness of treatment was assessed radiographically, bacteriologically, and histopathologically. The results showed that the negative rates of MRSA examination for rabbits were 36.36%, 18.18%, 73.33% and 81.25% respectively for groups 1 to 4. Significant differences were observed radiographically, bacteriologically, and histopathologically between groups 1 and 4, groups 2 and 3, and between groups 2 and 4. The best result of treatment was observed in group 4. Radiographically, VBG was found to be mostly reabsorbed and replaced by lots of new bones, whereas, VCS was completely reabsorbed and replaced by modest new bones. Histopathologically, there were lots of newly formed bones around VBG without any foreign body response, and only modest new bones around VCS with obvious foreign body response. VBG proved to have excellent biocompatibility and to be very effective in eradicating osteomyelitis and simultaneously stimulating bone regeneration, avoiding the disadvantages of VCS.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biocompatible Materials; Bone and Bones; Borates; Boron; Drug Carriers; Glass; Implants, Experimental; Male; Materials Testing; Osteomyelitis; Rabbits; Staphylococcal Infections; Vancomycin