Drug-loaded zeolite imidazole framework-8-functionalized bioglass scaffolds with antibacterial activity for bone repair

Bacterial infection is an important challenge when repairing bone defects with implant materials. The development of functional scaffolds with an intelligent antibacterial function that can be used for bone repair are of great significance. In this study, we used vancomycin (VAN) as a model antibiotic drug and proposed the fabrication of VAN-loaded zeolite imidazole framework-8-functionalized bioglass (ZIF-8@VAN@BG) scaffolds with a pH-responsive antibacterial effect for use in potentially infected bone repair applications. The physicochemical properties, in vitro biological properties and antibacterial properties of the scaffolds were studied. The results showed that the ZIF-8@VAN@BG scaffolds had a 3D porous structure and exhibited a faster VAN release rate in a weakly acidic solution. The in vitro cell experiments indicated that with increasing ZIF-8@VAN deposition, compared with BG scaffolds, the ZIF-8@VAN@BG scaffolds promoted the proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) and stimulated the expression of related osteogenic genes. The in vitro antibacterial evaluations showed that the ZIF-8@VAN@BG scaffolds had a significant inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, in which the bacterial inhibition efficacy of the ZIF-8@VAN@BG (H) scaffolds was approximately 93.5%. Hence, the pH-responsive ZIF-8@VAN@BG scaffolds demonstrate high potential for use in the field of infected bone repair.