Antibacterial, anti-biofilm and angiogenic calcium sulfate-nano MgO composite bone void fillers for inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus infections

Antibiotic loaded calcium sulfate (CS) beads are widely reported to be used as bone void fillers. Application of these beads has been found effective in the inhibition of bacterial infections and enhanced bone regeneration, though lacking the ability to enhance angiogenesis. Thus, realizing the importance of angiogenesis for complete bone regeneration, magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO Nps) of ≤50 nm and tigecycline (Tg) incorporated CS based nanocomposite (Tg-NC) (Tigecycline-Nanocomposite) beads were prepared. N, O-carboxymethyl chitosan solution was chosen as a binder in the preparation of CS-based beads for the enhanced stability. The prepared Tg-NC beads were characterized using SEM, EDS and FTIR. The Tg-NC beads were cytocompatible showing pro-angiogenic property. The sustained drug release for 10 days from Tg-NC beads was found to be very effective in the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Also, Tg-NC beads effectively inhibited biofilms exhibited by Staphylococcus aureus. Thus prepared Tg-NC beads can be used as bone void fillers for inhibiting infections and promoting angiogenesis.