Formulation and characterization of a sortase a inhibitor-loaded PMMA bone cement

A sortase A inhibitor (SrtA I)-loaded bone cement (SLBC) containing 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(dimethylamino)propyl-1-one hydrochloride (AEEK1) was reported. Compared with gentamicin-loaded bone cement (GS cement), which is a widely used antibiotic-loaded bone cement in cemented total joint replacement (TJR), SLBC demonstrated a significantly prolonged effective antibacterial duration against both <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) and methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> (MRSA). The quasi-static compressive strength, maximum polymerization temperature, and setting time of SLBC were within the limits stated in the ISO 5833 standard and comparable to the corresponding values of GS cement. <i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experimental results confirmed the biocompatibility of SLBC and showed its easy injectability into porcine T12 vertebrae. Taken together, these findings suggest that SLBC may have potential for managing/treating prosthetic joint infections, which is a common complication in cemented TJR.