Methods of making therapeutic polymeric material

A method of making an antibiotic-eluting implantable an acetabular liner comprising:

• a. providing a first UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) and a second UHMWPE;
• b. blending the first UHMWPE with about 6 wt % to about 8 wt % gentamicin;
• c. layering the first UHMWPE blended with gentamicin with the second UHMWPE without gentamicin to form a layered UHMWPEs;
• d. direct compression molding the layered UHMWPEs, thereby obtaining the antibiotic-eluting implantable acetabular liner, wherein the acetabular liner is not permanent and removed after use, and wherein the implanted acetabular liner elutes the antibiotic for at least 36 weeks.

A method of making an antibiotic-eluting implantable glenoid comprising:

• a. providing a first UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) and a second UHMWPE;
• b. blending the first UHMWPE with about 6 wt % to about 8 wt % gentamicin to form a first blended UHMWPE;
• c. layering the first blended UHMWPE with the second UHMWPE without gentamicin to form a layered UHMWPEs;
• d. direct compression molding the layered UHMWPEs, thereby obtaining the antibiotic-eluting implantable glenoid, wherein the glenoid is not permanent and removed after use, and wherein the implanted glenoid elutes the antibiotic for at least 36 weeks.

A method of making an antibiotic-eluting implantable small plug comprising:

• a. providing a first UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene);
• b. blending the UHMWPE with about 6 wt % to about 8 wt % gentamicin to form the first blended UHMWPE;
• c. providing a second UHMWPE;
• d. blending the second UHMWPE with di-cumyl peroxide to form the second blended UHMWPE;
• e. layering the first and the second blended UHMWPEs to form a layered UHMWPEs;
• f. consolidating the layered UHMWPEs, thereby obtaining the antibiotic-eluting implantable small plug, wherein the small plug is not permanent and removed after use, and wherein the implanted small plug elutes the antibiotic for at least 36 weeks.

A method of making an antibiotic-eluting implantable medical device comprising:

• a. providing a UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene);
• b. blending UHMWPE with about 6 wt % to about 8 wt % gentamicin;
• and
• c. direct compression molding the gentamicin-blended UHMWPE, thereby obtaining the antibiotic-eluting implantable device, wherein the medical device is not permanent and removed after use, and wherein the implanted medical device elutes the antibiotic for at least 36 weeks;
• wherein the implanted medical device is:
• (i) an acetabular liner, wherein the acetabular liner is to be used in total hip arthroplasty,
• (ii) a glenoid, wherein the glenoid is to be used in total shoulder arthroplasty, or
• (iii) a small plug, wherein the small plug is to be placed in the screw holes of an acetabular cup to be used in total hip arthroplasty.