Controlled Antibiotic Release From Emulsion-Loaded Alginate and Fibrin Hydrogels Using Ultrasound.

ABSTRACT: Postoperative infections remain a major complication after spinal fusion surgery, often caused by biofilm-forming bacteria that resist short-term antibiotic prophylaxis. Vancomycin (VAN) is sometimes delivered locally during surgery; however, levels diminish rapidly, leaving patients vulnerable to late-onset infections. We developed a composite hydrogel integrating perfluorohexane-based emulsions within alginate or fibrin matrices to enable both sustained and ultrasound-triggered VAN release. Water-in-oil-in-water emulsions were prepared using fluorosurfactant-stabilized perfluorohexane as the volatile oil phase, then embedded in hydrogels and exposed to ultrasound (2.5 MHz, 5.5 MPa peak negative pressure) to initiate acoustic droplet vaporization for triggered release. Drug release was qu

SUBMITTER: Fam ZGN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC13636844 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature