Recent Developments in Controlled Release of Antibiotics.

Traditional use of antibiotics through injection or oral ingestion has many disadvantages, such as detrimental side effects in the host, less effectiveness, high and repeated doses, and development of drug resistance. For prevention and treatment of implant-associated infections, the continuous local delivery of antibiotics is required. Thus, there is a strong demand for the development of drug carrier systems to control the release of antibiotics in a moderate manner over an appropriate timescale. This review summarizes the carrier platforms used for the loading of antibiotics, and highlights their drug release behaviors as well as in vitro and in vivo antibacterial properties.