| abstract |
A packing material for the treatment of infections, particularly of the teeth and gums. A biocompatible, polymeric carrier material, typically calcium alginate, has dispersed therein an antibiotic ester which typically defines at least one ester group of 10 to 18 carbon atoms per molecule. The antibiotic ester is present in the polymeric carrier in an initial concentration sufficient to allow the continuous, controlled release of at least an inhibitory concentration of free antibiotic as a hydrolysis product from the antibiotic ester. The rate of release of free antibiotic is influenced by the presence of bacterial lipase, so that a higher concentration of infectious bacteria causes the release of higher concentrations of free antibiotic, hydrolyzed from the ester, in a feedback loop. |