RELEASE PROFILE OF THE ANTIBIOTIC FROM THE DENTAL α-TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE CEMENTS

Recently, it has been reported that α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) dental cements containing antibiotics can make good results when used over carious dentine. However, the release behavior of antibiotics and Ca from the cement is not clarified. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the in vitro release profile of the antibiotic-containing α-TCP cements. Three kinds of antibiotics (Metronidazole, Cefaclor and Ciprofloxacin) were added to two commercially available α-TCP cements. The set cements were immersed in water at 37°C and the released antibiotics and Ca were determined at regular intervals until three months. The release profile of the antibiotic-containing α-TCP cements was depended on the antibiotics added. The release rate of Ciprofloxacin was not so high in the early stage but it tended to elute continuously for three months, though the release of Metronidazole and Cefaclor reached plateaus within one month. The release rates of Ca from the antibiotic-containing α-TCP cements were higher than that from the control. The amounts of Ca released from Type II were higher than that from Type I. These differences in the release profile between Type I and II cements seemed to reflect the setting reaction of these cements.