Preparation, Characterization and <i>In Vitro</i> Release Kinetics of Vancomycin Carried β-TCP/Chitosan Composite Microspheres Used as Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

A novel microsphere scaffolds composed of chitosan and β-TCP containing vancomycin was designed and prepared. The β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres were prepared by solid-in-water-in-oil (s/w/o) emulsion cross-linking method with or without pre-cross-linking process. The mode of vancomycin maintaining in the β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro release curve of vancomycin in simulated body fluid (SBF) was estimated. The results revealed that the pre-cross-linking prepared microspheres possessed higher loading efficiency (LE) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) especially decreasing the previous burst mass of vancomycin in incipient release. These composite microspheres got excellent sphere and well surface roughness in morphology. Vancomycin was encapsulated in composite microspheres through absorption and cross-linking. While in-vitro release curves illustrated that vancomycin release depond on diffusing firstly and then on the degradation ratio later. The microspheres loading with vancomycin would be to restore bone defect, meanwhile to inhibit bacterium proliferation. These bioactive, degradable composite microspheres have potential applications in 3D tissue engineering of bone and other tissues in vitro and in vivo.