Bone Cement With Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles

posted on 09/15/2011

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prophylactic, antimicrobial bone cement for hip & knee joint replacement

Prophylactic, antimicrobial protection from surgical wound infection without inducing resistance & decreasing the physical strength of the bone cement.

Post-operative joint infection remains the most devastating complication & one of the leading causes of morbidity following total joint replacement (arthroplasty) with mortality rates ranging between 2.7%-18%. Over the next 20 years, infection rates are expected to rise significantly due the increase in arthroplasty as a result of the aging population & increased life expectancy.The current treatment for post-surgical arthroplasty infection is prolonged intravenous treatment with highly toxic antibiotics, & when revision is necessary, the use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement.  Unfortunately both are quite costly & painful for the patient.Thanks to the researchers at Biomedical Development Corp, they have developed a patent-pending bone cement containing silver nanoparticles.  It is the first antimicrobial bone cement that can be used prophylactically as a preventative treatment, unlike current bone cements. It works because the silver is seamlessly integrated into the bone cement, using the bone cement's natural polymerization mechanism to generate nanoparticles that offer long-term, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity without inducing resistance strains of bacteria & without decreasing the strength of the cement.The implications for a growing incidence of infections & the accelerating demand for arthroplasty are driving the need for technologies to provide more effective counter measures for infection at the site of the joint.  This technology specifically addresses these needs.  It will have a huge impact on the millions of people who require knee & hip replacements each year.  It will not only reduce complications, it will increase recovery time while also decreasing healthcare costs.Furthermore, this technology should be applicable as a treatment for bone infections, in surgical repair of the skull due to instances of a defect , deformity or accidents, as well as dental applications.