Influence of isostatic compression on the stability of vancomycin loaded with a calcium phosphate-implantable drug delivery device

It is essential to prevent microbial infections after osteoarticular trauma or prothesis implantation. As an alternative to antibiotic parenteral administration, antibiotic‐loaded biomaterials allow high concentrations to be obtained in situ without systemic toxicity. Although the formulation of biphasic calcium‐phosphate (BCP)‐vancomycin granules by isostatic compression has recently been used to produce drug‐delivery devices, the stability of vancomycin needs to be proven. In this study, vancomycin was associated with BCP powders by isostatic compression at 100, 140, or 200 MPa and then extracted or released by a rotating paddle system for 24 h. Vancomycin assays were performed by spectrophotometric and microbiological methods. The results show that all vancomycin associated with the material was recovered after extraction without degradation. Thus, vancomycin was not denaturated after application of 100, 140, or 200 MPa of isostatic compression. The results for vancomycin released from granules compressed at the three pressures were not significantly different (p = .01) whether assays were performed microbiologically or spectrophotometrically, indicating a good correlation between the two methods. This process involving high pressure appears to be a good means of developing drug delivery devices loaded with therapeutic agents without denaturating the components. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 52, 308–314, 2000.