Antibiotic functionalized calcium aluminate ceramics as biomaterials

CHED 1179

Brian F. DiSalle, brian_disalle@hotmail.com1, Shelby Hott1, Ellen S. Gawalt, gawalte@duq.edu1, and Kenneth A. McGowan2. (1) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, (2) Westmoreland Advanced Materials
In this study we are investigating the modification of the surface of calcium aluminate ceramics in order to improve their effectiveness as potential biomaterials for bone stabilization or implants. The ceramic surface has been functionalized with long chain organic acids. Biologically active molecules such as ampicillin and vancomycin have been linked to these organic acids using N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide as coupling agents. Analysis of the surface was performed using diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Additionally, powder X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the phase composition of the ceramic before and after chemical surface modification.