Development and optimization of hydroxyapatite-ofloxacin implants for possible bone delivery in osteomyelitis treatment.

The present study deals with preparation, optimization and in-vitro drug release study of hydroxyapatite (HAp)- ofloxacin for bone-implantable delivery in osteomyelitis treatment. The effect of drug amount added, and orthophosphoric acid addition rate as process parameters on the drug loading into HAp-system by precipitation method was optimized by using 32 factorial design. The response surface methodology utilizing polynomial equation was used to search for optimal drug loading into HAp-system. The responses observed coincided well with the predicted values obtained through optimization technique. HAp-ofloxacin bone-implants were manufactured using synthesized HAp-ofloxacin composite powders and 2 % w/v aqueous solution of sodium alginate was used as binder. Characterization of the delivery system was done by FTIR spectroscopy. The in-vitro ofloxacin release from optimized HAp-ofloxacin bone-implants was slow and sustained over 10 weeks. The drug release pattern was correlated well with Korsmeyer-Peppas model and was followed by Fickian (diffusional) release mechanism.