In-vitro and In-vivo Assessment of Novel Sustained-release Local Drug Delivery Systems for Periodontal Therapy

Local drug delivery (LDD) systems have gained prominence in periodontal therapy due to their ability to achieve high drug concentrations at diseased sites while minimizing systemic adverse effects. Sustained-release formulations may further enhance therapeutic efficacy by prolonging drug bioavailability within periodontal pockets.

This combined in-vitro-in-vivo experimental study evaluated a novel biodegradable sustained-release LDD system containing doxycycline hyclate. In-vitro analysis assessed drug release kinetics, antibacterial efficacy, and biocompatibility. In-vivo evaluation involved 60 patients with chronic periodontitis randomly allocated to three groups: Group I (scaling and root planing [SRP] + sustained-release doxycycline gel), Group II (SRP + conventional doxycycline gel), and Group III (SRP alone). Clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and gingival index (GI), were recorded at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months.

In-vitro testing demonstrated sustained drug release up to 14 days with a cumulative release of 92.6 ± 3.1%. Group I showed significantly greater reductions in PPD (3.1 ± 0.6 mm) and CAL gain (2.8 ± 0.5 mm) at 3 months compared with Group II and Group III (P < 0.001). Microbial reduction was highest in Group I (78.4%).

The novel sustained-release LDD system demonstrated superior in-vitro release characteristics and enhanced clinical outcomes when used as an adjunct to SRP, supporting its potential role in advanced periodontal therapy.