The Preparation of Iron-Based Scaffolds with an Antibacterial Coating Based on Polylactic Acid and Vancomycin

Bioresorption of implants is a widely studied phenomenon today. Complete degradation of the implant after performing its mechanical function is the safest outcome for the patient. It also excludes revision prosthetics. Promising materials include metals and composites based on them. Currently, research on the development of biorezorable nanocomposite structures based on iron is actively underway. Often during orthopedic surgery, infections can enter the patient’s body. Therefore, various ways of modifying the implants with antibiotics are being developed. One of the modification options suggests that an antibacterial coating on the surface of the scaffold can be obtained by impregnating it with solutions of bioresorbable polymers filled with drugs. Variation in polymer composition, antibiotic concentration, and impregnation cycles makes it possible to obtain the necessary drug release parameters to achieve an optimal therapeutic effect. Since the object of our study, iron, does not have antimicrobial properties, in this work we considered the possibility of modifying Fe scaffolds with vancomycin by impregnation with antibiotic solution and polylactic acid (PLA) solution containing vancomycin. The process of drug release in physiological solution (0.9 % NaCl) and antibacterial properties of the obtained materials were studied. The structure and composition of the scaffolds and mechanical characteristics were also investigated. It was shown that modification of the surface of the scaffolds with polylactic acid leads to an increase in the ultimate strength by 40 % and to an overall smoothing of the deformation curve. The study showed that the introduction of vancomycin into the polymer allows obtaining an antibacterial coating on the surface of the scaffold with a prolonged release of the drug.