An injectable multifunctional thermo-sensitive chitosan-based hydrogel for periodontitis therapy.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Periodontology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Periodontitis is driven by bacteria, with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) exacerbating inflammation and tissue damage.
• Antioxidants show promise in periodontitis therapy by mitigating ROS and inflammation.
• Injectable, thermo-sensitive chitosan-based hydrogels are suitable for treating deep, irregular periodontal pockets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate an antibacterial and antioxidant therapeutic regimen using chitosan-based hydrogels.
• To incorporate antimicrobial peptides (Nal-P-113) and polydopamine nanoparticles (PDNPs) into hydrogels for periodontitis treatment.
• To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the developed hydrogel system.

Main Methods:

• Chitosan-based hydrogels were formulated with Nal-P-113 and/or PDNPs.
• Hydrogels were characterized in vitro for drug release kinetics and antioxidant activity (DPPH assay).
• Antibacterial efficacy was tested against key periodontopathic bacteria (S. gordonii, F. nucleatum, P. gingivalis) in vitro and in vivo using a rat periodontitis model.

Main Results:

• The hydrogel demonstrated stable release of Nal-P-113 and PDNPs for up to 13 days.
• Significant DPPH radical scavenging activity (approx. 80%) and high antibacterial ratios (approx. 99%) against tested bacteria were observed.
• The hydrogel effectively prevented periodontal tissue damage in the experimental periodontitis model in rats.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with antimicrobial peptides and antioxidants represent a promising multifunctional therapeutic approach for periodontitis.
• This hydrogel system offers a basis for developing advanced local drug delivery biomaterials for periodontitis treatment.
• The combination of antibacterial and antioxidant properties in a single delivery system enhances therapeutic potential.