ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an anti-infection nano-hydroxypatite (nano-HA) microsphere for local drug delivery for treating osteomyelitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The nano-HA was used as the core carrier to load gentamicin (GM) and coated with poly(-hydroxybutyrate-co- hydroxyvalerate)/polyethylene glycol (PHBV/PEG), which was degradable and biocompatible, to prepare nano-HA-PHBV/PEG-GM microsphere. The surface structure and in vitro drug-release of the microsphere were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The microsphere had good drug delivery capability. The samples weighing 90 mg each were soaked in PBS and gentamicin release within the first day was 165.2 microg/ml, which maintained a low release rate in the following days. After 28 days, gentamicin release declined to 8.5 microg/ml, which was higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration of gentamicin (2 microg/ml).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The local drug delivery system has good drug-release performance in vitro and may possess potential value in clinical management of osteomyelitis.</p>