Attenuating the pathological cycle of periodontitis: CGL NPs suppress pathological mineralization and modulate the...

Periodontitis, a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease, causes progressive destruction of periodontal tissues. Traditional scaling fails to fully eradicate subgingival calculus, leading to recurrence and impeding tissue recovery. To address this challenge, chitosan-gallic acid/lysozyme composite nanoparticles (CGL NPs) were synthesized through a two-step process involving chemical grafting and self-assembly complexation. The synthesized CGL NPs exhibit dual anti-biofilm and anti-mineralization capabilities. They effectively inhibit key periodontopathogens, specifically Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum through combined antibacterial mechanisms involving membrane disruption and peptidoglycan hydrolysis. Mechanistic assays suggest that CGL NPs chelate Ca²⁺, adsorb onto mineralized surfaces, and delay DCPD-to-HAP phase maturation, thereby attenuating pathological calcium phosphate deposition. As a downstream outcome, these effects inhibited dental calculus formation. In vitro, CGL NPs showed favorable cytocompatibility, enhanced HGF migration, showed antioxidant activity, and shifted macrophages toward an M2-like phenotype. Together, these findings support the potential of CGL NPs as a local adjunctive formulation in this proof-of-concept study.