The Antibacterial Effect, Biocompatibility, and Osteogenesis of Vancomycin-Nanodiamond Composite Scaffold for Infected Bone Defects

PURPOSE: The repair and treatment of infected bone defects (IBD) is a common challenge faced by orthopedic clinics, medical materials science, and tissue engineering. METHODS: Based on the treatment requirements of IBD, we utilized multidisciplinary knowledge from clinical medicine, medical materials science, and tissue engineering to construct a high-efficiency vancomycin sustained-release system with nanodiamond (ND) and prepare a composite scaffold. Its effect on IBD treatment was assessed from materials, cytology, bacteriology, and zoology perspectives. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the Van-ND-45S5 scaffold exhibited an excellent antibacterial effect, biocompatibility, and osteogenesis in vitro. Moreover, an efficient animal model of IBD was established, and a Van-ND-45S5 scaffold was implanted into the IBD. Radiographic and histological analyses and bone repair-related protein expression, confirmed that the Van-ND-45S5 scaffold had good biocompatibility and osteogenic and anti-infective activities in vivo. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings support that the Van-ND-45S5 scaffold is a promising new material and approach for treating IBD with good antibacterial effects, biocompatibility, and osteogenesis.