Design and Preliminary Investigation of Crosslinked Chitosan Sponges for Tailorable Drug Delivery and Infection Control

Musculoskeletal wound infections can be difficult to treat, often resulting in multiple surgeries and increased costs, and can be complicated by antibiotic resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to use genipin, alone or with poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), to crosslink chitosan sponges for a tailorable, degradable local drug delivery system to treat known musculoskeletal pathogens. Lyophilized uncrosslinked, genipin crosslinked, and PNIPAM/ genipin crosslinked chitosan sponges were evaluated in vitro for degradation, antibiotic uptake, elution, biologic activity, and biocompatibility. Crosslinked chitosan sponges exhibited decreased degradation and increased antibiotic uptake and elution. PNIPAM/genipin crosslinked sponges had the highest and prolonged release of antibiotics. Vancomycin and amikacin eluted from all sponges was active against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and did not have significant cytotoxic effects. These results indicate that genipin crosslinked and PNIPAM/ genipin crosslinked chitosan sponges have potential as tailorable adjunctive treatments for infection control, suitable for extended degradation and antibiotic release times