Release of vancomycin and tobramycin from polymethylmethacrylate cements impregnated with calcium polyphosphate hydrogel.

The influence of calcium polyphosphate (CPP) gel incorporation on the release of vancomycin and tobramycin from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cement (Simplex P, SP) has been studied. Adding 10% CPP gel to SP led to a much lower burst release of vancomycin and considerably extended release of both vancomycin and tobramycin up to 24 weeks. Antibiotics released from this new material retain their bactericidal activity for up to 15 weeks.

Raman molecular imaging of brain frozen tissue sections.

Raman spectroscopy provides a molecular signature of the region being studied. It is ideal for neurosurgical applications because it is non-destructive, label-free, not impacted by water concentration, and can map an entire region of tissue. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the meaningful spatial molecular information provided by Raman spectroscopy for identification of regions of normal brain, necrosis, diffusely infiltrating glioma and solid glioblastoma (GBM).

Raman spectroscopy to distinguish grey matter, necrosis, and glioblastoma multiforme in frozen tissue sections.

The need exists for a highly accurate, efficient and inexpensive tool to distinguish normal brain tissue from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and necrosis boundaries rapidly, in real-time, in the operating room. Raman spectroscopy provides a unique biochemical signature of a tissue type, with the potential to provide intraoperative identification of tumor and necrosis boundaries. We aimed to develop a database of Raman spectra from normal brain, GBM, and necrosis, and a methodology for distinguishing these pathologies.