Structural analysis of xSrO-(50 − x)CaO-50P2O5 glasses with x = 0, 5, or 10 mol% for potential use in a local delivery system for osteomyelitis treatment

The introduction of ions into a local delivery matrix is one method of managing degradation and subsequent release of the incorporated therapeutic agents. Of interest in this study was whether we could modify the structural nature of calcium polyphosphate (CPP) glass and the subsequent therapeutic potential of this local delivery matrix with inclusion of strontium (Sr). We found that adding 10 mol% Sr significantly increased the density and chain length of the glass. There was no significant impact of Sr doping on the subsequent loading of vancomycin into the matrix, or the matrix porosity. The noted differences in structural stability, ion release, and vancomycin release between the un-doped CPP matrices and 10 mol% Sr-doped CPP matrices in vitro are likely a result of a decrease in glass disorder upon Sr addition to the glass and preferential retention of Sr over Ca during matrix degradation. This study has provided further evidence that Sr incorporation may serve to both manipulate antibiotic release from the amorphous CPP matrix and provide a potential source of therapeutic ions for enhanced bone regeneration.