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Levofloxacin-loaded star poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds by additive manufacturing

  • Biomaterials Synthesis and Characterization
  • Original Research
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Abstract

The employment of a tissue engineering scaffold able to release an antimicrobial agent with a controlled kinetics represents an effective tool for the treatment of infected tissue defects as well as for the prevention of scaffolds implantation-related infectious complications. This research activity was aimed at the development of additively manufactured star poly(ε-caprolactone) (*PCL) scaffolds loaded with levofloxacin, investigated as antimicrobial fluoroquinolone model. For this purpose a computer-aided wet-spinning technique allowing functionalizing the scaffold during the fabrication process was explored. Scaffolds with customized composition, microstructure and anatomical external shape were developed by optimizing the processing parameters. Morphological, thermal and mechanical characterization showed that drug loading did not compromise the fabrication process and the final performance of the scaffolds. The developed *PCL scaffolds showed a sustained in vitro release of the loaded antibiotic for 5 weeks. The proposed computer-aided wet-spinning technique appears well suited for the fabrication of anatomical scaffolds endowed with levofloxacin-releasing properties to be tested in vivo for the regeneration of long bone critical size defects in a rabbit model.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Tuscany Region (Italy) funded Project “Nuovi Supporti Bioattivi a Matrice Polimerica per la Rigenerazione Ossea in Applicazioni Odontoiatriche (R.E.O.S.S.)” as part of the program POR CReO FESR 2007–2013 - Le ali alle tue idee. Authors are grateful to Mr. Piero Narducci for his precious support in recording SEM images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BIOLab Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, UdR INSTM Pisa, Via Moruzzi 13, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Dario Puppi, Anna Maria Piras, Alessandro Pirosa, Stefania Sandreschi & Federica Chiellini

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  1. Dario Puppi
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  2. Anna Maria Piras
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  3. Alessandro Pirosa
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  5. Federica Chiellini
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Correspondence to Federica Chiellini.

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Puppi, D., Piras, A.M., Pirosa, A. et al. Levofloxacin-loaded star poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds by additive manufacturing. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 27, 44 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-015-5658-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-015-5658-1

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