Release of vancomycin and teicoplanin from a plasticized and resorbable gelatin sponge: in vitro investigation of a new antibiotic delivery system with glycopeptides

• Published in: Infection 2006-02, Vol.34 (1), p.29-34
• Main Authors: Drognitz, O, Thorn, D, Krüger, T, Gatermann, S G, Iven, H, Bruch, H-P, Muhl, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacokinetics; Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Controlled release; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Fluorescence; Gelatin; Gelatin - chemistry; Glycerol; Glycopeptides; Glycopeptides - administration & dosage; Glycopeptides - pharmacokinetics; Half-Life; Immunoassay; Incubation; Investigations; Plastics - chemistry; Sponges; Sustained release; Teicoplanin; Teicoplanin - administration & dosage; Teicoplanin - pharmacokinetics; Vancomycin; Vancomycin - administration & dosage; Vancomycin - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0300-8126; 1439-0973
• DOI: 10.1007/s15010-006-1067-1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sustained release of vancomycin and teicoplanin from a resorbable gelatin glycerol sponge, in order to establish a new delivery system for local anti-infective therapy. 60 plasticized glycerol gelatin sponges containing either 10 or 20% gelatin (w/v) were incubated in vancomycin or teicoplanin solution at 20 degrees C for either 1 or 24 h. In vitro release properties of the sponges were investigated over a period of 1 week by determining the levels of vancomycin and teicoplanin eluted in plasma using fluorescent polarization immunoassay. The rate constant and the half-life for the antibiotic release of each group were calculated by linear regression assuming first order kinetics. Presoaking for 24 h was associated with a significant increase in the total antibiotic release in all groups opposed to 1 h of incubation, except for the 10% sponges presoaked in teicoplanin. Doubling the gelatin content of the sponges from 10 to 20% significantly increased the total release of antibiotic load only in teicoplanin-containing sponges after 24 h incubation. In all corresponding groups investigated, release of vancomycin was more prolonged compared to teicoplanin, which allowed a gradual release beyond 5 days. The half-life (h +/- SEM) of both types of vancomycin-containing sponges was significantly prolonged by 24 h incubation in comparison to 1 h incubation (29.1 +/- 5.9 vs 5.9 +/- 1.0; p < 0.001, 30.0 +/- 2.1 vs 11.1 +/- 1.9; p < 0.001). However, neither doubling the gelatin content of the sponges nor a prolonged incubation was associated with a significantly prolonged delivery of teicoplanin. This study demonstrated a better diffusion-controlled release of vancomycin-impregnated glycerol gelatin sponges compared to those pretreated with teicoplanin. The plasticized glycerol gelatin sponge may be a promising carrier for the application of vancomycin to infected wounds for local anti-infective therapy.