Biocompatibility of a chitosan-based injectable thermosensitive hydrogel and its effects on dog periodontal tissue regeneration

Bioactive injectable mucoadhesive thermosensitive natural polymeric hydrogels for oral bone and periodontal regeneration

Periodontitis is an inflammation-related condition, caused by an infectious microbiome and host defense that causes damage to periodontium. The natural processes of the mouth, like saliva production and eating, significantly diminish therapeutic medication residency in the region of periodontal disease. Furthermore, the complexity and diversity of pathological mechanisms make successful periodontitis treatment challenging. As a result, developing enhanced local drug delivery technologies and logical therapy procedures provides the foundation for effective periodontitis treatment. Being biocompatible, biodegradable, and easily administered to the periodontal tissues, hydrogels have sparked substantial an intense curiosity in the discipline of periodontal therapy. The primary objective of hydrogel research has changed in recent years to intelligent thermosensitive hydrogels, that involve local adjustable sol-gel transformations and regulate medication release in reaction to temperature, we present a thorough introduction to the creation and efficient construction of new intelligent thermosensitive hydrogels for periodontal regeneration. We also address cutting-edge smart hydrogel treatment options based on periodontitis pathophysiology. Furthermore, the problems and prospective study objectives are reviewed, with a focus on establishing effective hydrogel delivery methods and prospective clinical applications.

Assessment of bone morphogenetic protein-7 loaded chitosan/β-Glycerophosphate hydrogel on periodontium tissues regeneration of class III furcation defects

Background

Periodontitis is a long-term, multifactorial inflammatory condition that is triggered by bacterial germs and interacts with the host's immune system. The unique attachment of fibrous tissue between the cementum and bone presents a challenge for periodontal regeneration.

Aim

To achieve the lowest optimum dose of BMP-7 that helps in periodontal regeneration, involving newly formed cementum, PDL and bone.

Materials and methods

Five healthy mongrel dogs were used for the study. A critical class III furcation defect was created using rotating burs. The bone defects (ten defects for each group) were allocated to one of the subsequent groups: (Group 1) control with the surgical defect only. (Group 2) Surgical defect implanted with hydrogel only (CS/β-GP). (Group 3) Surgical defect implanted with CS/BMP-7 (50 ng/ml). (Group 4) Surgical defect implanted with CS/BMP-7 (100 ng/ml).

Results

Histomorphometric and H&E analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in bone, PDL, and cementum regeneration defects filled with CS/BMP-7 (100 ng/ml) compared with other groups.

Conclusion

The standard effective dose for BMP-7 use in periodontal regeneration is 100 ng/ml.

Advances in hydrogels for the treatment of periodontitis

Periodontitis is the second most prevalent oral disease and can cause serious harm to human health. Hydrogels are excellent biomaterials that can be used for periodontitis as drug delivery platforms to achieve inflammation control through high drug delivery efficiency and sustained drug release and as tissue scaffolds to achieve tissue remodelling through encapsulated cell wrapping and effective mass transfer. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in the treatment of periodontitis with hydrogels. The pathogenic mechanisms of periodontitis are introduced first, followed by the recent progress of hydrogels in controlling inflammation and tissue reconstruction, in which the specific performance of hydrogels is discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and limitations of hydrogels for clinical applications in periodontitis are discussed and possible directions for development are proposed. This review aims to provide a reference for the design and fabrication of hydrogels for the treatment of periodontitis.

Acetylated Distarch Phosphate-Mediated Tough and Conductive Hydrogel for Antibacterial Wearable Sensors

Conductive, stretchable, and flexible hydrogel wearable sensors have attracted extensive attention in the fields of artificial intelligence and electronic equipment. However, it is an enormous challenge to fabricate conductive hydrogel sensors with biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, and toughness. Here, a highly conductive hydrogel with excellent toughness, good biocompatibility, and strong antibacterial properties was prepared by incorporating acetylated distarch phosphate (ADSP) into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride (PHMG). The addition of ADSP not only ionized sodium ions to make the hydrogel conductive but also provided abundant hydroxyl groups to form hydrogen bonds with PVA to improve the toughness of the hydrogel. Furthermore, PHMG endowed the hydrogel with antibacterial properties toward E. coli (Escherichia coli, Gram-negative bacteria) and S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-positive bacteria). Meanwhile, the hydrogel was implanted in mice for 14 days, and the surrounding tissue remained in good condition. More importantly, the hydrogel could detect ECG signals and electrical signals under different actions. This study affords a novel approach for exploiting wearable sensors with antibacterial properties and biocompatibility.

General Characteristics, Biomedical and Dental Application, and Usage of Chitosan in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Narrative Review

The aim of this narrative review was to present research investigating chitosan, including its general characteristics, properties, and medical and dental applications, and finally to present the current state of knowledge regarding the efficacy of chitosan in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) based on the literature. The PICO approach was used for the literature search strategy. The PubMed database was analyzed with the following keywords: (“chitosan”[MeSH Terms] OR “chitosan”[All Fields] OR “chitosans”[All Fields] OR “chitosan s”[All Fields] OR “chitosane”[All Fields]) AND (“temporomandibular joint”[MeSH Terms] OR (“tem-poromandibular”[All Fields] AND “joint”[All Fields]) OR “temporomandibular joint”[All Fields] OR (“temporomandibular”[All Fields] AND “joints”[All Fields]) OR “temporo-mandibular joints”[All Fields]). After screening 8 results, 5 studies were included in this review. Chitosan presents many biological properties and therefore it can be widely used in several branches of medicine and dentistry. Chitosan promotes wound healing, helps to control bleeding, and is used in wound dressings, such as sutures and artificial skin. Apart from its antibacterial property, chitosan has many other properties, such as antifungal, mucoadhesive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and antitumoral properties. Further clinical studies assessing the efficacy of chitosan in the treatment of TMD are required. According to only one clinical study, chitosan was effective in the treatment of TMD; however, better clinical results were obtained with platelet-rich plasma.

Can Plant Materials Be Valuable in the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases? Practical Review

Periodontal diseases are one of the most significant challenges in dental health. It is estimated that only a few percent of the worldwide population have entirely healthy teeth, and according to WHO, oral diseases may affect up to 3.5 billion people worldwide. One of the most serious oral diseases is periodontitis, an inflammatory disease affecting periodontal tissues, caused by pathogenic bacteria and environmental factors such as the ageing population, abuse of tobacco products, and lack of adequate oral hygiene due low public awareness. Plant materials are widely and successfully used in the management of many conditions, including periodontitis. Plant materials for periodontitis exhibit antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities and affect the periodontium structure. Numerous studies demonstrate the advantages of phytotherapy for periodontitis relief and indicate the usefulness of Baikal skullcap root, Pomegranate fruit peel and root cortex, Tea leaves, Chamomile flowers, Magnolia bark, Blackberry leaves and fruits, Cranberry fruits and Lippia sidoides essential oil. This review aims to analyze the use and applicability of selected plant materials in periodontitis management since it is of paramount importance to evaluate the evidence of the traditionally used plant materials in light of continuously growing interest in phytotherapy and its adjuvant role in the treatment of periodontitis.

Postoperative Adhesion Prevention Using a Biodegradable Temperature-Responsive Injectable Polymer System and Concomitant Effects of the Chymase Inhibitor

Postoperative adhesion remains a problem in surgery and causes postoperative complications. Laparoscopic surgery is now common, making it increasingly important to develop injectable formulations of adhesion barriers that can be applied during such surgeries. Temperature-responsive injectable polymer (IP) systems exhibiting a sol-to-gel transition in response to temperature are promising candidates as effective adhesion barriers that can be applied conveniently during laparoscopic surgery. We previously developed IP systems exhibiting temperature-responsive irreversible gelation based on a triblock copolymer of poly(ε-caprolactone-co-glycolic acid) (PCGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (PCGA-b-PEG-b-PCGA: tri-PCG) and a tri-PCG derivative with acrylate groups at the termini (tri-PCG-acryl). A mixture of tri-PCG-acryl micelle solution and tri-PCG micelle solution containing polythiol exhibited an irreversible sol-to-gel transition in response to a temperature increase. The gel contains partial covalent cross-linking, and the degradation and physical properties of these IP hydrogels can easily be controlled by changing the mixing ratio of tri-PCG-acryl in the formulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of physical properties of the IP hydrogel on the efficacy of adhesion prevention using our IP system containing various amounts of tri-PCG-acryl. Our results show that an IP system with lower physical strength and rapid degradation reduces adhesion more effectively. Chymase plays a crucial role in exacerbating adhesion formation, and a peptide derivative-type chymase inhibitor (CI), Suc-Val-Pro-Phe^P(OPh)₂, was previously reported to prevent adhesion. We thus investigated the concomitant use of this CI with our IP system using two methods: separate administration of the CI and IP and entrapping the CI in the IP hydrogel. IP systems with separately administrated CI provided better results than the administration of an IP system entrapping the CI or sole IP systems. These findings suggest that the pharmacological effect of the CI and a physical barrier generated by our IP system effectively prevents adhesion.

Influence of Materials Properties on Bio-Physical Features and Effectiveness of 3D-Scaffolds for Periodontal Regeneration

Periodontal diseases are multifactorial disorders, mainly due to severe infections and inflammation which affect the tissues (i.e., gum and dental bone) that support and surround the teeth. These pathologies are characterized by bleeding gums, pain, bad breath and, in more severe forms, can lead to the detachment of gum from teeth, causing their loss. To date it is estimated that severe periodontal diseases affect around 10% of the population worldwide thus making necessary the development of effective treatments able to both reduce the infections and inflammation in injured sites and improve the regeneration of damaged tissues. In this scenario, the use of 3D scaffolds can play a pivotal role by providing an effective platform for drugs, nanosystems, growth factors, stem cells, etc., improving the effectiveness of therapies and reducing their systemic side effects. The aim of this review is to describe the recent progress in periodontal regeneration, highlighting the influence of materials' properties used to realize three-dimensional (3D)-scaffolds, their bio-physical characteristics and their ability to provide a biocompatible platform able to embed nanosystems.

Injectability of Thermosensitive, Low-Concentrated Chitosan Colloids as Flow Phenomenon through the Capillary under High Shear Rate Conditions

Low-concentrated colloidal chitosan systems undergoing a thermally induced sol-gel phase transition are willingly studied due to their potential use as minimally invasive injectable scaffolds. Nevertheless, instrumental injectability tests to determine their clinical utility are rarely performed. The aim of this work was to analyze the flow phenomenon of thermosensitive chitosan systems with the addition of disodium β-glycerophosphate through hypodermic needles. Injectability tests were performed using a texture analyzer and hypodermic needles in the sizes 14G-25G. The rheological properties were determined by the flow curve, three-interval thixotropy test (3ITT), and Cox-Merz rule. It was found that reducing the needle diameter and increasing its length and the crosshead speed increased the injection forces. It was claimed that under the considered flow conditions, there was no need to take into account the viscoelastic properties of the medium, and the model used to predict the injection force, based solely on the shear-thinning nature of the experimental material, showed very good agreement with the experimental data in the shear rate range of 200-55,000 s-1. It was observed that the increase in the shear rate value led to macroscopic structural changes of the chitosan sol caused by the disentangling and ordering of the polysaccharide chains along the shear field.

Investigation on solution-to-gel characteristic of thermosensitive and mucoadhesive biopolymers for the development of moxifloxacin-loaded sustained release periodontal in situ gels

The objectives of present research were to develop and characterize thermosensitive and mucoadhesive polymer-based sustained release moxifloxacin in situ gels for the treatment of periodontal diseases. Poloxamer- and chitosan-based in situ gels are in liquid form at room temperature and transform into gel once administered into periodontal pocket due to raise in temperature to 37 °C. Besides solution-to-gel characteristic of polymers, their mucoadhesive nature aids the gel to adhere to mucosa in periodontal pocket for prolonged time and releases the drug in sustained manner. These formulations were prepared using cold method and evaluated for pH, solution-gel temperature, syringeability and viscosity. In vitro drug release studies were conducted using dialysis membrane at 37 °C and 50 rpm. Antimicrobial studies carried out against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.A.) and Streptococcus mutans (S. Mutans) using agar cup-plate method. The prepared formulations were clear and pH was at 7.01-7.40. The viscosity of formulations was found to be satisfactory. Among the all, formulations comprising of 21% poloxamer 407 and 2% poloxamer 188 (P5) and in combination with 0.5% HPMC (P6) as well as 2% chitosan and 70% β-glycerophosphate (C6) demonstrated an ideal gelation temperature (33-37 °C) and sustained the drug release for 8 h. Formulations P6 and C6 showed promising antimicrobial efficacy with zone of inhibition of 27 mm for A.A. and 55 mm for S. Mutans. The developed sustained release in situ gel formulations could enhance patient's compliance by reducing the dosing frequency and also act as an alternative treatment to curb periodontitis.

Injectable chitosan/gelatin/bioactive glass nanocomposite hydrogels for potential bone regeneration: In vitro and in vivo analyses

The present work describes in vitro and in vivo behaviors of thermosensitive composite hydrogels based on polymers/bioactive glass nanoparticles. Assays in SBF (simulated body fluid) solution showed that loss of hydrogel mass in vitro was decreased by 4.3% when bioactive glass nanoparticles (nBG) were incorporated, and confirmed the bioactivity of nBG containing hydrogels. In vitro assays demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the hydrogels with encapsulated rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC). Crystal violet assays showed a 27% increase in cell viability when these cells were seeded in hydrogels containing nBG. In vivo biocompatibility was examined by injecting hydrogels into the dorsum of Swiss rats. The results indicated that the prepared hydrogels were nontoxic upon subcutaneous injection, and could be candidates for a safe in situ gel-forming system. Injection of the hydrogels into a rat tibial defect allowed preliminary evaluation of the hydrogels' regenerative potential. Micro Computed Tomography analysis suggested that more new tissue was formed in the defects treated with the hydrogels. Taken together, our data suggest that the developed injectable composite hydrogels possess properties which make them suitable candidates for use as temporary injectable matrices for bone regeneration.

Construction and synergistic anticancer efficacy of magnetic targeting cabbage-like Fe3O4@MoS2@ZnO drug carriers

A novel cabbage-like Fe₃O₄@MoS₂@ZnO nanocomposite was successfully fabricated through a facile method. The as-prepared nanocomposite exhibited a saturation magnetization of 45 emu g^-1 as well as possessed a massive pore structure and large surface area, leading to a high DOX loading capacity of 68.14 μg mg^-1; it could effectively deliver drugs to tumor lesion sites under the action of magnetic targeting. The pH-dependent ZnO as a packaging component can block the pores to achieve controlled release of DOX under tumor stimulation conditions (pH 6.5), thereby reducing the side effects of DOX on normal cells and increasing its therapy effects on tumor cells. Moreover, the photothermal conversion efficiency contributed by MoS₂ under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation was utilized to realize effective photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancer, which could be integrated with chemotherapy in a single system. Thus, the resulting Fe₃O₄@MoS₂@ZnO nanocomposites provide hopeful prospects in biomedical applications based on pH sensitivity, magnetic targeting and chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy.

Multiparticulate based thermosensitive intra-pocket forming implants for better treatment of bacterial infections in periodontitis

Considering alarming projections in the prevalence of periodontitis, following study was undertaken to develop chitosan-vanillin crosslinked microspheres loaded in-situ gel (MLIG) implants containing ornidazole and doxycycline hyclate for the treatment of pocket infections. Firstly, microspheres were formulated and optimized using response surface methodology for particle size <50 μm, entrapment efficiency >80%, in-vitro drug release (T_80%) >7 days and acceptable mucoadhesion. Further, MLIG were optimized for gelation temperature of 34-37 °C and viscosity <1000 cps respectively. FTIR, DSC and XRD graphs disclosed compatibility and alterations in crystallinity of drugs. In-vitro dissolution study demonstrated non-Fickian type of drug release mechanism for twelve days. Stability studies ascertained MLIG implants were sterilizable and stable for about 11.29 months on refrigeration. The formulations exhibited significant (p < 0.001) antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis, and were found biocompatible and biodegradable during preclinical studies. Ligature-induced periodontal rat model, corroborated significant growth (p < 0.05) of gingival tissue after two weeks. Clinical trials revealed, intra-pocket administration of MLIG along with SRP provided significant reduction in clinical parameters as compared to SRP alone. Conclusively, antimicrobials incorporated thermosensitive, biodegradable, mucoadhesive and syringeable MLIG implants appeared as better option for the treatment of periodontitis.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells laden novel thermo-sensitive hydrogel for the management of severe skin wound healing

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are easy to collect and culture, and it is identified that it has multi-directional differentiation potential, moreover it has low immunogenicity, hence it can be used as an allogeneic cell source for skin wound healing. Hydrogel has been widely used in skin wound healing own to it is able to mimic the 3D microenvironment of cells, which supports cell proliferation, migration and secretion. In this study, we created a novel biocompatible thermo-sensitive hydrogel to carry BMSCs for full-thickness skin wound healing. The thermo-sensitive hydrogel loaded with BMSCs can fast achieve sol-gel transition after implanting to the wound. Histological results confirmed that hydrogel-BMSCs combination group showed significant promotion of wound closure, epithelial cells' proliferation and re-epithelialization, and reduced inflammatory responses in the wounds and in the tissues surrounding the wounds. The combination therapy also can promote collagen deposition, TGF-β1 and bFGF secretion and tissue remodeling. The present study provides a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of skin wounds.

Photopolymerized maleilated chitosan/thiol-terminated poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogels as potential tissue engineering scaffolds

Photocrosslinkable hydrogels composed of natural materials exhibit great application potential in tissue engineering scaffolds. However, weak formation and poor mechanical property can usually be a limitation. Herein, the photo-clickable thiol-ene hydrogels based chitosan were synthesized using photopolymerization of maleic chitosan (MCS) and thiol-terminated poly (vinyl alcohol) (TPVA) in the presence of a biocompatible photoinitiator. Rheological property and absorbing behavior of the MCS/TPVA hydrogels could be tailored by varying the amount of TPVA in the feed. There was strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the molecules of MCS and TPVA. Notably, the MCS/TPVA hydrogel (MT-3) exhibited rapid gelation behavior (<120 s), improved stiff (G' = ∼5500 Pa) and compressive strength (0.285 ± 0.014 MPa), which were important for hydrogel scaffolds, especially for injectable hydrogel scaffolds. Photocrosslinked MCS/TPVA hydrogels was cytocompatible and could promote the L929 cells attachment and proliferation, showing their potential as tissue engineering scaffolds.

Injectable scaffolds: Preparation and application in dental and craniofacial regeneration

Injectable scaffolds are appealing for tissue regeneration because they offer many advantages over pre-formed scaffolds. This article provides a comprehensive review of the injectable scaffolds currently being investigated for dental and craniofacial tissue regeneration. First, we provide an overview of injectable scaffolding materials, including natural, synthetic, and composite biomaterials. Next, we discuss a variety of characteristic parameters and gelation mechanisms of the injectable scaffolds. The advanced injectable scaffolding systems developed in recent years are then illustrated. Furthermore, we summarize the applications of the injectable scaffolds for the regeneration of dental and craniofacial tissues that include pulp, dentin, periodontal ligament, temporomandibular joint, and alveolar bone. Finally, our perspectives on the injectable scaffolds for dental and craniofacial tissue regeneration are offered as signposts for the future advancement of this field.

Litchi-like Fe3O4@Fe-MOF capped with HAp gatekeepers for pH-triggered drug release and anticancer effect

A novel litchi-like porous composite composed of a magnetic core, a tunable metal–organic framework (MOF) shell and a pH-sensitive hydroxyapatite (HAp) gatekeeper was successfully fabricated in this work.

Characterization and cytocompatibility of thermosensitive hydrogel embedded with chitosan nanoparticles for delivery of bone morphogenetic protein-2 plasmid DNA

A novel injectable chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel was designed as a target multi-effect scaffold for endogenous repair of the periodontium. The hydrogel complex was designed by embedding chitosan nanoparticles (CSn) loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-2 plasmid DNA (pDNA-BMP2) into a chitosan (CS)-based hydrogel with α,β-glycerophosphate (α,β-GP), termed CS/CSn(pDNA-BMP2)-GP. Characterization, the in vitro release profile for pDNA-BMP2, and cytocompatibility to human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs), were then conducted. The average diameter of the CSn(pDNA-BMP2) was 270.1 nm with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.486 and zeta potential of +27.0 mv. A DNase I protection assay showed that CSn could protect the pDNA-BMP2 from nuclease degradation. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of CSn(pDNA-BMP2) were more than 80 and 30 %, respectively. The sol-gel transition time was only 3 min when CSn(pDNA-BMP2) was added into the CS/α,β-GP system. Scanning electron microscopy showed that CSn(pDNA-BMP2) was randomly dispersed in a network with regular holes and a porous structure. Weighting method showed the swelling ratio and degradation was faster in medium of pH 4.0 than pH 6.8. An in vitro pDNA-BMP2 release test showed that the cumulative release rate of pDNA-BMP2 was much slower from CS/CSn-GP than from CSn in identical release media. In release media with different pH, pDNA-BMP2 release was much slower at pH 6.8 than at pH 4.0. Three-dimensional culture with HPDLCs showed good cell proliferation and the Cell-Counting Kit-8 assay indicated improved cell growth with the addition of CSn(pDNA-BMP2) to CS/α,β-GP. In summary, the CS/CSn(pDNA-BMP2)-GP complex system exhibited excellent biological properties and cytocompatibility, indicating great potential as a gene delivery carrier and tissue regeneration scaffold for endogenous repair of the periodontium.

Prospects of chitosan-based scaffolds for growth factor release in tissue engineering

Tissue engineering is concerned about the rejuvenation and restoration of diseased and damages tissues/organs using man-made scaffolds that mimic the native environment of the cells. In recent years, a variety of biocompatible and biodegradable natural materials is employed for the fabrication of such scaffolds. Of these natural materials, chitosan is the most preferred one as it imitates the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the cells. Moreover, chitosan-based materials are pro-angiogenic and have antibacterial activity. These materials can be easily fabricated into the desired shape of the scaffolds that are suitable for tissue support and regeneration. Growth factors are small proteins/peptides that support and enhance the growth and differentiation of cells into a specific lineage. It has been observed that scaffolds capable of delivering growth factor promote tissue repair and regeneration at a faster rate when compared to scaffolds without growth factor. The present review focuses on the recent developments on chitosan-based scaffolds for the delivery of growth factors thereby improving and enhancing tissue regeneration.

Thermosensitive hydrogel for periodontal application: in vitro drug release, antibacterial activity and toxicity evaluation

Injectable thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel is an attractive temperature-induced sol-gel solution that is widely used in drug delivery and biomedical applications. In this study, an injectable antimicrobial delivery system for periodontal treatment based on chitosan/gelatin/β-glycerolphosphate solution has been developed. The result of thermal and mechanical evaluations of chitosan/gelatin/β-glycerolphosphate hydrogel showed that adding gelatin to chitosan/β-glycerolphosphate solution significantly decreased gelling time and increased gel strength at 37℃. The antimicrobial agents chosen for release studies were metronidazole with a low molecular weight and vancomycin hydrochloride with a high molecular weight. The initial burst and total in vitro drug release for metronidazole was 13% and 67%, respectively. The initial burst and total drug release for vancomycin hydrochloride was relatively low at 3% and 23%, respectively. The momentary and total percentage of metronidazole accumulated in the phosphate buffer revealed that chitosan/gelatin/β-glycerolphosphate can develop and maintain sustained release of metronidazole in concentrations that are effective for eliminating pathogenic bacteria over time. Cytotoxicity evaluations show that chitosan/gelatin/β-glycerolphosphate thermosensitive hydrogel is a drug carrier with no cytotoxic effects.

A chitosan-hyaluronic acid hydrogel scaffold for periodontal tissue engineering

The current challenge in treating periodontitis is regenerating the periodontium. This motivates tissue-engineering researchers to develop scaffolds as artificial matrices that give mechanical support for osteoblasts, cementoblasts, gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblast cells. In this study, modified hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CS) were employed to create a hybrid CS-HA hydrogel scaffold for periodontal regeneration. CS, HA, and CS-HA scaffolds were obtained by freeze-drying technique, resulting in porous structures suitable for use in tissue engineering. Scaffolds were submitted to gamma and UV-sterilization without significant morphology changes. The ATR-FTIR spectra of CS-HA hydrogels showed peaks at 377 cm^-1 , 1566 cm^-1 , and 1614 cm^-1 , representing secondary amide, primary amine, and carboxyl acid respectively, and it was also observed the emergence of peaks at 886 cm^-1 , which probably represents the Schiff base formed in the case of hybrid CS-HA hydrogels. The scaffolds presented a high rate of PBS uptake, reaching values higher than 95%. Thermal degradation of HA scaffolds was around 225°C and CS was around 285°C. The ATR-FTIR spectra and swelling degree were slightly disturbed mainly after gamma sterilization, but degradation temperature did not change after sterilization. The performance of the CS-HA hydrogel scaffolds for in vitro cell culture was tested using NIH3T3 and MG63 cell lines. The Alamar Blue test showed a significant increase in cellular viability and high CD44 expression, suggesting that the cells migrated more when seeded onto the scaffolds. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1691-1702, 2016.

Advanced biomaterials and their potential applications in the treatment of periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is considered as a widespread infectious disease and the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. Attempts for developing periodontal disease treatment strategies, including drug delivery and regeneration approaches, provide a useful experimental model for the evaluation of future periodontal therapies. Recently, emerging advanced biomaterials including hydrogels, films, micro/nanofibers and particles, hold great potential to be utilized as cell/drug carriers for local drug delivery and biomimetic scaffolds for future regeneration therapies. In this review, first, we describe the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, including plaque formation, immune response and inflammatory reactions caused by bacteria. Second, periodontal therapy and an overview of current biomaterials in periodontal regenerative medicine have been discussed. Third, the roles of state-of-the-art biomaterials, including hydrogels, films, micro/nanofibers and micro/nanoparticles, developed for periodontal disease treatment and periodontal tissue regeneration, and their fabrication methods, have been presented. Finally, biological properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability and immunogenicity of the biomaterials, together with their current applications strategies are given. Conclusive remarks and future perspectives for such advanced biomaterials are discussed.

Preparation, characterization, and in vitro release of carboxymethyl starch/β-cyclodextrin microgel–ascorbic acid inclusion complexes

CMS/β-CD microgels prevented the early release of ascorbic acid in the stomach and target delivery of them to the intestine due to the ionization of carboxylic groups.

Glycerophosphate-based chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels and their biomedical applications

Chitosan is non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide composed of glucosamine and derived by deacetylation of chitin. Chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel has been developed to form a gel in situ, precluding the need for surgical implantation. In this review, the recent advances in chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels based on different glycerophosphate are summarized. The hydrogel is prepared with chitosan and β-glycerophosphate or αβ-glycerophosphate which is liquid at room temperature and transits into gel as temperature increases. The gelation mechanism may involve multiple interactions between chitosan, glycerophosphate, and water. The solution behavior, rheological and physicochemical properties, and gelation process of the hydrogel are affected not only by the molecule weight, deacetylation degree, and concentration of chitosan, but also by the kind and concentration of glycerophosphate. The properties and the three-dimensional networks of the hydrogel offer them wide applications in biomedical field including local drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Preparation and multiple antitumor properties of AuNRs/spinach extract/PEGDA composite hydrogel

In this study, a novel composite hydrogel that contains spinach extract (SE), gold nanorods (AuNRs), and poly(ethylene glycol) double acrylates (PEGDA) is prepared through a one-step in situ photopolymerization under noninvasive 660 nm laser irradiation for localized antitumor activity. SE plays a role as a photoinitiator for initiating the formation of the PEGDA hydrogel and as an excellent photosensitizer for generating cytotoxic singlet oxygen ((1)O2) with oxygen to kill tumor cells. AuNRs can be used as a photoabsorbing agent to generate heat from optical energy. Moreover, the introduction of AuNRs is conducive to the formation of the hydrogel and accelerates the rate of (1)O2 generation. The composite hydrogel shell, which has good biocompatibility on tumor cells, can prevent the photosensitizer from migrating to normal tissue and maintains a high concentration on lesions, thereby enhancing the curative effect. The combination of NIR light-triggered mild photothermal heating of AuNRs, the photodynamic treatment using SE, and localized gelation by photopolymerization exhibits a synergistic effect for the destruction of cancer cells.

Antibacterial Activity of a Chitosan-PVA-Ag+-Tobermorite Composite for Periodontal Repair

A polymer-mineral composite was prepared by solvent casting a mixture of chitosan, poly(vinyl alcohol), and Ag+-exchanged tobermorite in dilute acetic acid and characterised by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The in vitro bioactivity of the CPTAg membrane was confirmed by the formation of hydroxyapatite on its surface in simulated body fluid. The alkaline dissolution products of the tobermorite lattice buffered the acidic breakdown products of the chitosan polymer and the presence of silver ions resulted in marked antimicrobial action against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. The in vitro cytocompatibility of the CPTAg membrane was confirmed using MG63 osteosarcoma cells. The findings of this preliminary study have indicated that chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol)-Ag+-tobermorite composites may be suitable materials for guided tissue regeneration applications.

Thermosensitive chitosan/glycerophosphate-based hydrogel and its derivatives in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications

INTRODUCTION

Thermogelling chitosan (CS)/glycerophosphate (GP) solutions have been reported as a new type of parenteral in situ forming depot system. These free-flowing solutions at ambient temperature turn into semi-solid hydrogels after parenteral administration.

AREAS COVERED

Formulation parameters such as CS physico-chemical characteristics, CS/gelling agent ratio or pH of the system, were acknowledged as key parameters affecting the solution stability, the sol/gel transition behavior and/or the final hydrogel structure. We discuss also the use of the standard CS/GP thermogels for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Furthermore, this manuscript reviews the different strategies implemented to improve the hydrogel characteristics such as combination with carrier particles, replacement of GP, addition of a second polymer and chemical modification of CS.

EXPERT OPINION

The recent advances in the formulation of CS-based thermogelling systems already overcame several challenges faced by the standard CS/GP system. Dispersion of drug-loaded carrier particles into the thermogels allowed achieving prolonged release profiles for low molecular weight drugs; incorporation of an additional polymer enabled to strengthen the network, while the use of chemically modified CS led to enhanced pH sensitivity or biodegradability of the matrix.

Chitosan as a barrier membrane material in periodontal tissue regeneration

Periodontal regeneration is defined as regeneration of the tooth-supporting tissues including cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has been demonstrated to be an effective technique to achieve periodontal regeneration. In the GTR procedures, various kinds of membranes play important roles. Chitosan, a deacetylated derivative of chitin, is biocompatible, biodegradable, and antimicrobial. It acts as hydrating agent and possesses tissue healing and osteoinducing effect. Chitosan can be easily processed into membranes, gels, nanofibers, beads, nanoparticles, scaffolds, and sponges forms and can be used in drug delivery systems. Here, we review the bioproperties of chitosan and report the progress of application of chitosan as membranes in GTR and guided bone regeneration (GBR), which indicates that chitosan could be a good substrate candidate as the materials for the GTR/GBR membranes.

Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly(D,L-lactide)-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) hydrogels

A novel thermoreversible hydrogel based on poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-derived amphiphilic triblock copolymer, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly(D,L-lactide)-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOz-PLA-PEOz), was developed. The synthesis of PEOz-PLA-PEOz was carried out by coupling monohydroxylated PEOz-PLA diblocks with adipoyl chloride as coupling agent and dimethylamino pyridine as catalyst. The tube inverting and rheological tests showed that triblock copolymers had sol-gel-sol transition behavior with increasing temperature, and the gelation was found to be thermoreversible. The critical gelation concentration, the sol-gel transition temperature at a given concentration depended on the EOz/LA ratio and the molecular weight of PEOz. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that the resultant bulky gel exhibited an interconnected porous three-dimensional (3D) microstructure after freeze-drying. In addition, the hydrogels showed good cytocompatibility in vitro. MTT assays revealed that the human skin fibroblast cells encapsulated within the hydrogels were viable and proliferated inside the 3D scaffold. This newly described thermoreversible hydrogel demonstrated attractive properties to serve as cell matrix for a variety of tissue engineering applications or pharmaceutical delivery vehicles.