Synthesis of Gelatin-Agarose Scaffold for Controlled Antibiotic Delivery and its Modification by Glass Nanoparticles Addition as a Potential Osteomyelitis Treatment

The present study aimed to prepare controlled drug delivery systems based on gelatin-agarose scaffold and its modification by the addition of glass nanoparticles. Three different scaffolds were prepared and coded according to their glass contents (0, 20, and 40 wt.%) as PG0, PG20, and PG40, respectively. They were characterized by the SEM/EDX and FT-IR. Glass nanoparticles addition improved the ability of the scaffolds to precipitate a hydroxyapatite layer on their surfaces. The total quantities of the drug taken by the scaffolds PG0, PG20, and PG40 were 38.82 ± 0.4, 39.22 ± 0.3, and 38.78 ± 0.3 mg, respectively. The final cumulative amounts of release drug of scaffolds PG0, PG20 and PG40 during the whole release experiments (24 days) were 4.98 ± 1.15, 8.23 ± 1.20, and 14.45 ± 1.62 mg, respectively. Incorporation of glass nanoparticles in the scaffolds improved their drug release profiles and rates. Application of different mathematical models on the drug release profile of the scaffolds indicated that ciprofloxacin was released through diffusion-controlled and/or dissolution-controlled modes. The proposed scaffolds could serve as a potential osteomyelitis treatment.