Membranes of poly(L-lactic-co-D,L-lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) electrospun with vancomycin and simvastatin for combined antimicrobial and osteogenic therapy.

Bone infection, primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), often leads to inflammation, necrosis, and bone tissue damage. If left untreated, it may result in serious complications, including bone infarction and septicemia. Current therapeutic strategies, although diverse, are not universally effective and often require a combination of treatments. In this context, tissue engineering offers innovative solutions by employing biomaterials such as poly(L-co-D,L-lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PLDLA-TMC), a bioresorbable and biocompatible polymer. This study investigates the use of electrospun PLDLA-TMC membranes as a drug delivery system for vancomycin (VAN) and simvastatin (SIM). VAN, a glycopeptide antibiotic, effectively targets Gram-positive bacteria, including S. aureus, whereas SIM promotes osteogenesis. FTIR, SEM, TGA, DSC, degradation assay, drug release profile, microbiological assays, cytotoxicity, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated to assess the potential of this material for bone formation. Physicochemical analyses confirmed that VAN and SIM were successfully incorporated into the PLDLA-TMC membrane without inducing chemical alterations in the polymer. SEM analysis revealed a regular electrospun morphology with incorporated drugs, as well as a morphology after degradation consistent with the time course of the sustained release profile of both compounds. Moreover, cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that VAN and SIM combined exhibited no cytotoxic effects. SIM enhanced ALP activity, demonstrating its osteoinductive potential. These findings suggest that electrospinning VAN and SIM into PLDLA-TMC-based membranes represents a promising strategy for bone infection and bone formation therapy, combining antimicrobial efficacy with enhanced osteogenic differentiation.