Azithromycin-loaded chitosan films: a multifunctional platform for oral tissue regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Oral regenerative surgery requires advanced biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue repair.
• Chitosan-based films offer potential due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties.
• Optimizing drug loading and mechanical characteristics is crucial for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and benchmark azithromycin-loaded chitosan composite films for oral regenerative surgery.
• To systematically optimize film formulations using a design-of-experiments (DoE) model.
• To evaluate the films' mechanical properties, drug release kinetics, bioactivity, and surgical handling.

Main Methods:

• Systematic 3^2 design-of-experiments (DoE) model with varying chitosan (CS) molecular weights, gelatin, and glycerol concentrations.
• Characterization using FTIR, SEM, mechanical testing, swelling studies, and drug-release assays.
• Evaluation of bioactivity (cytotoxicity, cell migration), antimicrobial efficacy, and ex vivo surgical performance.

Main Results:

• Optimal film (CS HMW, 2% gelatin, 1% glycerol) showed balanced mechanical properties (Young's modulus 82.43 kPa) and zero-order azithromycin release (R²=0.96-0.98).
• Films preserved fibroblast and osteoblast viability, exhibited antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus, and demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects.
• Post-hydration, membranes acted as non-permeating barriers with temporary adhesiveness and adapted shape, showing stability in ex vivo porcine models.

Conclusions:

• The developed azithromycin-loaded chitosan films offer predictable, sustained drug release and tunable mechanics for oral regeneration.
• The platform provides quantifiable antibacterial and anti-inflammatory bioactivity, supporting cell viability and migration.
• These optimized films demonstrate promising potential for future preclinical in vivo oral regeneration studies.