Synthesis and characterization of an injectable rifampicin-loaded chitosan/hydroxyapatite bone cement for drug delivery

Rifampicin (RFP) is a first-line hydrophobic anti-tuberculosis drug. An injectable RFP-loaded cement was prepared as a bone scaffold and drug delivery vehicle in this paper. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The injection performance, compressive strength, degradation performance, cytotoxicity, and in vitro release of the drug-loaded cement were evaluated as well. Moreover, the effects of RFP on the properties of cement were discussed. The results showed that the cement had an appropriate setting time and good injectability to meet the clinical requirements for bone defect repair. RFP had no significant effect on the setting time of cement. But RFP increased the porosity of the cement and reduced its strength. The in vitro drug release studies demonstrated that the RFP-loaded cement had a good sustained release effect on RFP. It had great potential as a drug-loaded artificial bone material for bone repair and anti-tuberculosis. Graphic abstract