Lidocaine-Loaded Thermoresponsive Gel for Accelerated Wound Healing in Dry Socket and Oral Wounds

Dry socket, also known as alveolar osteitis, presents significant challenges in oral surgery because of severe pain and delayed wound healing. This study aims to address these challenges by developing and evaluating a lidocaine-loaded polyelectrolyte complex thermoresponsive gel (LG) designed to enhance wound healing and provide effective pain management in oral wounds. The thermoresponsive gel transitions from a liquid to a gel at body temperature, ensuring sustained contact with the wound site and prolonged release of lidocaine. The in vitro assessments, including cytotoxicity and wound scratch assays, demonstrated the biocompatibility and therapeutic potential of the LG formulation. Following this, palatal wounds were induced in rats, with healing monitored over a 14-days period. Histological analyses were conducted to assess tissue regeneration and inflammation. The results indicated that the LG formulation significantly improved wound closure rates, reduced inflammation, and accelerated epithelialization compared with control groups, primarily because of the high content of hyaluronic acid (HA). The synergistic effects of HA combined with the thermoresponsive properties of the gel facilitated faster healing. These findings suggest that LG is a promising therapeutic option for enhancing oral wound healing and effectively managing pain, particularly in conditions such as dry socket.

Lidocaine HCl-Loaded Polyelectrolyte Complex -Poloxamer Thermoresponsive Hydrogel: In Vitro- In Vivo Anesthetic Evaluations for Tooth Socket Wound Delivery

Local anesthesia is essential in dental practices, particularly for managing pain in tooth socket wounds, yet improving drug delivery systems remains a significant challenge. This study explored the physicochemical characteristics of lidocaine hydrochloride (LH) incorporated into a polyelectrolyte complex and poloxamer thermosensitivity hydrogel, assessing its local anesthetic efficacy in mouse models and its onset and duration of action as topical anesthetics in clinical trials. The thermoresponsive hydrogel exhibited a rapid phase transition within 1-3 minutes and demonstrated pseudo-plastic flow behavior. Its release kinetics followed Korsmeyer-Peppas, with 50% of biodegradation occurring over 48 h. In mouse models, certain thermogels showed superior anesthetic effects, with rapid onset and prolonged action, as evidenced by heat tolerance in tail-flick and hot plate models. In clinical trials, the LH-loaded thermoresponsive hydrogel provided rapid numbness onset, with anesthesia (Ton) beginning at an average of 46.5 ± 22.5 seconds and lasting effectively (Teff) for 202.5 ± 41.0 seconds, ranging from 120 to 240 seconds, indicating sustained release. These results highlight the promising properties of these formulations: rapid onset, prolonged duration, mucoadhesion, biodegradability, and high anesthesia effectiveness. This study demonstrates the potential for advancing local anesthesia across various medical fields, emphasizing the synergy between material science and clinical applications to improve patient care and safety.

Temperature-Sensitive Sensors Modified with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): Enhancing Performance through Tailored Thermoresponsiveness

The development of temperature-sensitive sensors upgraded by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) represents a significant stride in enhancing performance and tailoring thermoresponsiveness. In this study, an array of temperature-responsive electrochemical sensors modified with different PNIPAM-based copolymer films were fabricated via a "coating and grafting" two-step film-forming technique on screen-printed platinum electrodes (SPPEs). Chemical composition, grafting density, equilibrium swelling, surface wettability, surface morphology, amperometric response, cyclic voltammograms, and other properties were evaluated for the modified SPPEs, successively. The modified SPPEs exhibited significant changes in their properties depending on the preparation concentrations, but all the resulting sensors showed excellent stability and repeatability. The modified sensors demonstrated favorable sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and L-ascorbic acid. Furthermore, notable temperature-induced variations in electrical signals were observed as the electrodes were subjected to temperature fluctuations above and below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The ability to reversibly respond to temperature variations, coupled with the tunability of PNIPAM's thermoresponsive properties, opens up new possibilities for the design of sensors that can adapt to changing environments and optimize their performance accordingly.

Controlled Release of Insulin Based on Temperature and Glucose Dual Responsive Biomicrocapsules

The treatment of diabetes lies in developing novel functional carriers, which are expected to have the unique capability of monitoring blood glucose levels continuously and dispensing insulin correctly and timely. Hence, this study is proposing to create a smart self-regulated insulin delivery system according to changes in glucose concentration. Temperature and glucose dual responsive copolymer microcapsules bearing N-isopropylacrylamide and 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid as main components were developed by bottom-spray coating technology and template method. The insulinoma β-TC6 cells were trapped in the copolymer microcapsules by use of temperature sensitivity, and then growth, proliferation, and glucose-responsive insulin secretion of microencapsulated cells were successively monitored. The copolymer microcapsules showed favorable structural stability and good biocompatibility against β-TC6 cells. Compared with free cells, the biomicrocapsules presented a more effective and safer glucose-dependent insulin release behavior. The bioactivity of secreted and released insulin did not differ between free and encapsulated β-TC6 cells. The results demonstrated that the copolymer microcapsules had a positive effect on real-time sensing of glucose and precise controlled release of insulin. The intelligent drug delivery system is supposed to mimic insulin secretion in a physiological manner, and further provide new perspectives and technical support for the development of artificial pancreas.