pH-Induced In Situ Gel for Periodontal Anesthesia

A pH mediated in situ gelling system was developed using prilocaine hydrochloride for periodontal anesthesia using combination of chitosan and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. The gel so developed can be used as anaesthetic in lengthy dental surgery. The gel was evaluated for many parameters like gelation pH, viscosity, physicochemical properties, in vitro release, sterility and stability. Gel with chitosan (0.25% w/v) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (0.25% w/v) was found to have good gelation near pH 7.4 (pH of mucous) with prolonged action.