Modulation of Alendronate release from a calcium phosphate bone cement: An in vitro osteoblast-osteoclast co-culture study

Authors:
Dolci LS1, Panzavolta S2, Torricelli P3, Albertini B1, Sicuro L3, Fini M3, Bigi A4, Passerini N1
In:
Source: Int J Pharm
Publication Date: ()
Issue: 554: 245-255
Cells used in publication:
Osteoclast precursor (OCP), human
Species: human
Tissue Origin: bone marrow
Experiment


Abstract

In this study, we loaded a biomimetic calcium phosphate bone cement (CPC) with relatively high amounts of a bisphosphonate through the use of Solid Lipid Microparticles (MPs) and investigated bone cells response to the composite cements. 10, 20 and 30% w/w of Alendronate (AL) were successfully introduced into microparticles of Cutina HR and Precirol, which were prepared by means of spray-congealing technique. Addition of AL-loaded MPs to the cement composition provoked a lengthening of the setting and of the hardening processes. However, setting times were still in a range useful for clinical applications, except for the cements at the highest Alendronate content. The composite cements displayed a sustained drug release over time. Cements with the best performances in terms of setting, hardening, mechanical properties and drug release were submitted to in vitro tests using a co-culture model of osteoblast and osteoclast. The results showed that the use of MPs to enrich the cement composition with Alendronate provides materials able to inhibit osteoclast viability and activity, while promoting osteoblast viability and earlier differentiation, indicating that the MPs-cements are good delivery systems for bisphosphonates