Gentamicin‐Loaded Carbonate Apatite with Dual Antibacterial and Osteogenic Functions for Combating Surgical Site Infections

Surgical site infections remain a critical concern in dental and orthopedic procedures. To combat surgical site infections, gentamicin-loaded carbonate apatite (GM-CAp) granules, a novel antibacterial biomimetic bone substitute is developed. GM-CAp granules rapidly release the loaded gentamicin, leading to swift suppression of bacteria and proactive prevention of infection. In vitro studies validate the bactericidal effects of GM-CAp granules against a spectrum of odontogenic bacteria. In vivo investigations confirm the effectiveness of GM-CAp in suppressing Staphylococcus aureus infection, mitigating inflammation, especially neutrophil recruitment, and stimulating bone regeneration. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that early-stage neutrophil dynamics may influence the inflammatory milieu and subsequent bone healing in the infected bone defect following CAp or GM-CAp implantation. Overall, GM-CAp granules represent a potential strategy for combating surgical site infections and increasing the success rate of bone healing in dental and orthopedic surgeries. Additionally, it is proposed that the status of early postoperative neutrophil recruitment may serve as a potential parameter for evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of biomaterials.