PLGA nanoparticles as chlorhexidine-delivery carrier to resin-dentin adhesive interface

To characterize and deliver fabricated CHX-loaded PLGA-nanoparticles inside micron-sized dentinal-tubules of demineralized dentin-substrates and resin-dentin interface.

Nanoparticles fabricated by emulsion evaporation were assessed in-vitro by different techniques. Delivery of drug-loaded nanoparticles to demineralized dentin substrates, interaction with collagen matrix, and ex-vivo CHX-release profiles using extracted teeth connected to experimental setup simulating pulpal hydrostatic pressure were investigated. Furthermore, nanoparticles association/interaction with a commercial dentin-adhesive applied to demineralized dentin substrates were examined.

The results showed that the formulated nanoparticles demonstrated attractive physicochemical properties, low cytotoxicity, potent antibacterial efficacy, and slow degradation and gradual CHX release profiles. Nanoparticles delivered efficiently inside dentinal-tubules structure to sufficient depth (>10μm) against the simulated upward pulpal hydrostatic-pressure, even after bonding-resins infiltration and were attached/retained on collagen-fibrils. These results verified the potential significance of this newly introduced drug-delivery therapeutic strategy for future clinical applications and promote for a new era of future dental research.

This innovative drug-delivery strategy has proven to be a reliable method for delivering treatments that could be elaborated for other clinical applications in adhesive and restorative dentistry.