Abstract
The fabrication of local drug delivery systems having an osteoconductive property with sustained drug release ability has been a hot topic of research interest. The goal of this research is to employ ultrasonic-assisted in situ mineralization of HAp nanoparticles in the presence of ciprofloxacin utilizing eggshells as a calcium precursor. Analysis of the prepared samples using XRD, FTIR, EDX, TGA, and TEM confirmed the in situ loading of ciprofloxacin on HAp nanoparticles. Moreover, the prepared samples exhibit mesoporous characteristics and contain bioactive components such as Mg and carbonate ions which were inherited from an eggshell source. The ciprofloxacin loading efficiency and amount of ciprofloxacin loaded in the Cip-HAp were found to be 63 % and 5 %, respectively, based on UV-visible spectroscopic characterization and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, ciprofloxacin release from the prepared sample was found to be sustained and prolonged for 30 days with a 90 % drug release profile. The ciprofloxacin release data fitted the Higuchi model and Ritger-Peppas model and indicated that the Fickian diffusion process involved the drug release kinetics. In situ preparation of HAp nanoparticles in the presence of ciprofloxacin result in a strong interaction between ciprofloxacin and HAp and tend to result in a drug carrier delivery system with a prolonged and continuous release that could be used to treat osteomyelitis. Moreover, preparing HAp nanoparticles using eggshell calcium precursor is an economical and environmentally friendly method that reduces production costs.