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Published on: July 10, 2014
Curcumin-loaded chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel with sustained release for periodontal applications: an in vitro
Reema M Rao1, Monali Nikalje2, Shiprita Kumari3
1Nitte (Deemed to be University), AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Department of Periodontics, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
Objective:
Thermosensitive hydrogels have emerged as promising localized drug delivery systems for periodontal therapy. Curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties but is limited by its poor solubility and bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a curcumin-loaded chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel for periodontal application.
Methodology:
This in vitro experimental study included five groups as positive controls, negative control, blank chitosan hydrogel, free curcumin, curcumin-loaded hydrogel, and chlorhexidine (0.12%). The hydrogel was formulated using chitosan and β-glycerophosphate and was characterized for thermosensitive gelation and injectability. Drug release was assessed using dialysis. Cytocompatibility was evaluated in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) using the MTT assay at 24, 48, and 72 h. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated cells. Antibacterial activity (MIC/MBC) and antibiofilm efficacy were tested against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with the appropriate post-hoc tests (p<0.05).
Results:
The curcumin-loaded hydrogel showed high cell viability (>90%) and significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-1β levels when compared with free curcumin. It demonstrated improved antibiofilm activity (∼74-79%) and lower MIC values than free curcumin, although slightly less effective than chlorhexidine. A sustained drug release profile (∼81.6% at 14 days) following Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics was observed.
Conclusion:
The curcumin-loaded chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel showed improved biological performance and sustained release when compared with free curcumin, suggesting its potential as a localized periodontal drug delivery system. Further in vivo studies are required to validate these findings.
