Publications Repository - Gdańsk University of Technology

Nowadays in case of long-term implants, the most common postoperative complications are bacterial infections, which in consequence may provoke loos- ening of the implants in the primary phase of stabilization. Bacterial infections are currently the most frequent cause of revision surgery of the implants such as hip joint endoprosthesis, knee joint endoprosthesis and dental implants. In order to provide the local and long-term antibacterial cover in the tissues surrounding the implant, research is performed on materials that are carriers of drugs, which release active substances only in the case of the pH change in the system during inflammation. In consequence, biomaterials ensure antibacterial protection for a long time, not only in short post-operative period. An example of such materials are biopolymers. Biopolymers sensitive to change in pH value of the environment of live tissue that surround the implants can be used as an independent implants or as the coatings on the implants. In this case in the polymer`s matrix is dispersed often used drugs such as doxorubicin, gentamicin, vancomycin and cefuroxime. Drugs are released from this biomaterial according to three main mechanisms: diffusion, swelling and material degradation. This review paper presents the mechanism of bacterial interaction with implant surface and biofilm formation, and mechanism of drugs release from the biological active substance. Therefore, the natural and synthetic polymer materials sensitive to the lower value of pH such as chitosan, Eudragit E 100, Poly (L-histidine) and Poly (4-vinyl pyridine) are described

Authors

• dr inż. Łukasz Pawłowski link open in new tab ,
• dr inż. Michał Bartmański link open in new tab ,
• prof. dr hab. inż. Andrzej Zieliński link open in new tab