Comparison of antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of non-leaching nitrofuran bone cement loaded with vancomycin, gentamicin, and tigecycline

BACKGROUND: Non-leaching antibacterial bone cement can generate long-term antibacterial activity, it cannot treat serious infections that have occurred like antibiotic-loaded bone cement. Currently, the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of non-leaching cement when loaded with antibiotics have yet to be determined. METHODS: Non-leaching antibacterial nitrofuran bone cement (NFBC) specimens were prepared with low-dose and high-dose antibiotics. The antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of NFBC loaded with vancomycin, gentamicin, and tigecycline were compared. The agar diffusion method was employed to observe the inhibition zone of the samples against two bacterial strains from day one to day seven. The CCK-8 assay and acute liver and kidney toxicity test were conducted to assess the effects of the samples on mouse embryo osteoblast precursor cells and C57 mice, respectively. RESULTS: Gentamicin-loaded cement exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting both bacterial strains at a low dose. Tigecycline-loaded cement demonstrated superior biocompatibility, showing no acute liver and kidney toxicity in mice and minimal cytotoxicity to osteoblasts. CONCLUSIONS: NFBC loaded with gentamicin, vancomycin, and tigecycline not only maintains sustained antibacterial activity but also exhibits excellent biocompatibility. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-023-04055-2.