XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
  Osteoporosis
  Osteomyelitis
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
 
 India
Search

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2006 - 12:32:53 PM

Orthopedics Channel
subscribe to Orthopedics newsletter

Latest Research : Orthopedics

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Developing stable, bacteria-resistant implants
Sep 24, 2005 - 3:31:00 PM, Reviewed by: Dr.

�The idea of having a permanent chemical bond to the metal is a new approach. This can be used for every metal and plastic implant, with every antibiotic.�

 
Infections associated with inserting a medical device can be devastating, painful, and cause prolonged disability, costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Now, researchers at Jefferson Medical College have found a way to create a permanent chemical bond between antibiotics and titanium, a material used in orthopedic implants. The proof-of-principle study showed that an antibiotic can be connected to the titanium surface in an active form, and can kill bacteria and prevent infection. The work is a critical first step toward developing stable, bacteria-resistant implants to combat infection.

�The biggest benefit of this work is to keep the infection from ever starting,� says Eric Wickstrom, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, who in collaboration with Noreen Hickok, Ph.D., associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Jefferson Medical College and Allen Zeiger, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Jefferson Medical College, developed the bonding method.

Infections associated with orthopedic implants are one of the major causes of implant failure. If bacteria grow on an implant, it can�t knit properly with bone. �Our technique puts a bed of antibiotic nails on the surface of the implant,� Dr. Wickstrom says. In the work, the scientists fastened the antibiotic vancomycin to titanium powder. The vancomycin could then immediately kill bacteria sensitive to vancomycin that landed on the titanium.

The researchers checked to see if vancomycin was indeed attached to the titanium surface using microscopy. The tests proved that the vancomycin was bound and active.

Finally, they added bacteria and showed that titanium beads with vancomycin on the surface killed the bacteria. When the beads were exposed to more bacteria, the vancomycin continued to kill the new infection. The vancomycin was not only chemically bound, but aggressively curtailed re-infection as well.

The researchers, led by Irving Shapiro, Ph.D., professor of orthopedic surgery at Jefferson Medical College, and including collaborators at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson and the University of Pennsylvania are supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop techniques to protect titanium surfaces with antibiotics.

�The recent results are another step toward our ultimate goal of preventing infections in battlefield fractures and hip and knee implants,� Dr. Shapiro says.

�This technology bonding antibiotics to the implant surface is analogous to having land mines,� says orthopedic surgeon Javad Parvizi, M.D., who treats implant-related infections and works on the project. When a hip or knee implant is infected, physicians give extensive antibiotic treatment and the old implant is replaced. The treatment can include cement-containing antibiotics. Later, infections can start on the implant from a different source in the body, such as a bladder infection or a dental procedure.

Dr. Wickstrom says the same approach can be used for other antibiotics and other implants. �There are plastic devices � bladder catheters, implants for kidney dialysis, Hickman tubes, pacemakers � every implant you can think of is a magnet for bacteria,� he says. While the current work is proof-of-principle for binding titanium to an antibiotic, the research team has received a new grant for $3 million from the National Institutes of Health for five years to investigate ways of encouraging bone growth on implants bearing permanent antibiotics.

�When an infected implant is taken out, it�s usually covered with a slimy layer of bacteria,� Dr. Hickok explains. �We�re moving from just having a bacteria-killing surface to having one that prevents infection while promoting better bone-implant interactions. The idea is to have the implant last for many more years and avoid infection.
 

- September 23, 2005 - Journal Chemistry and Biology
 

www.jeffersonhospital.org

 
Subscribe to Orthopedics Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 



Related Orthopedics News

Modifying NFATc1 Triggers Bone Production
'Magic formula' accurately predicts fracture risk in osteoporotic women
Calcium supplements fail to prevent bone fractures in children
Estrens might not be the answer for osteoporosis
Increasing NFATc1 activity causes massive bone accumulation
Second-Hand Smoke, First-Hand Problem
Using gene therapy to accelerate damaged muscle regeneration
Low carbohydrate diet did not increase bone loss
Teriparatide to be tested for osteogenesis imperfecta
A novel vertebroplasty technique strengthens vertebrae after removing spinal tumors


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us