Evaluation of Second-Generation Lipophosphonoxins as Antimicrobial Additives in Bone Cement

[Image: see text] Successful surgeries involving orthopedic implants depend on the avoidance of biofilm development on the implant surface during the early postoperative period. Here, we investigate the potential of novel antibacterial compounds—second-generation lipophosphonoxins (LPPOs II)—as additives to surgical bone cements. We demonstrate (i) excellent thermostability of LPPOs II, which is essential to withstand elevated temperatures during exothermic cement polymerization; (ii) unchanged tensile strength and elongation at the break properties of the composite cements containing LPPOs II compared to cements without additives; (iii) convenient elution kinetics on the order of days; and (iv) the strong antibiofilm activity of the LPPO II-loaded cements even against bacteria resistant to the medicinally utilized antibiotic, gentamicin. Thus, LPPOs II display promising potential as antimicrobial additives to surgical bone cements.