Osteomyelitis is the inflammation of bone which is treated by a high dose of antibiotics given intravenously for 46 weeks. However, at present locally administered antibiotic such as gentamicin poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bead is nonbiodegradable and a secondary surgery is often inevitable. This study described the biodegradable material poly-D, L-lactide (PLA) with 80 kDa molecular weight that could be used as a potential antibiotic carrier for local drug release. PLA was first dissolved in tetrahydrofuran followed by blending with levofloxacin (LFX) in a physical way. The blend was then molded into beads. The optimized weight ratio between PLA and LFX was designated as 45 : 15. Glass transition temperature and surface ultramicrostructure of the beads were measured. In vitro tests of drug release and bacteriostasis demonstrated that the PLALFX beads released high concentrations of antibiotic for the period of time (i.e., 6 weeks), which is needed to treat bone infection. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012