Modification of demineralized bone matrix by a chemical route

Abstract

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is a well known osteoinductive biomaterial being used in bone related therapies and recently in biomolecular delivery. To widen its usage in therapeutic delivery, the present study was focused on chemical modification of DBM by a grafting technique using glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) as a monomer and ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiating system. The chemical modification of DBM was proved by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to analyze functional groups before and after grafting. The grafting results and grafting mechanism are described in detail. The chemically modified DBM was evaluated for in-vitro therapeutic delivery by coupling the gentamicin through epoxy functional groups introduced by GMA. The loading and release of gentamicin was evaluated in Hank's medium at pH 7.4 and 37°C under physiological conditions and it was found to release the drug for a prolonged period as compared to ungrafted DBM. Based on the experimental results, the chemical modification paves the way to utilization of DBM macromolecules in therapeutic delivery.