A mussel-inspired wet-adhesive prolonged-acting antibacterial hydrogels for the treatment of periodontitis

Abstract

The local application of antibacterial agents is an essential anti-infective therapeutical adjunct for periodontitis. However, the dynamic aqueous micromilieu of the periodontal pocket makes it tough for the local antibacterial preparations to keep in place and provide sustained drug release. Herein, we construct a wet-adhesive antimicrobial drug delivery system tannic acid-silk fibroin-minocycline hydrochloride (TA-SF-MCH, TSM) with reliable wet adhesion capacity in the periodontal microenvironment, which sustainably delivers MCH motivated by diffusion and swelling for up to 28 days. It demonstrates effective antiseptic activity against major periodontal pathogens P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, with satisfying inhibition rates of 97.10 ± 0.11 % and 87.87 ± 9.16 % before and after 4 w aging, respectively. Moreover, TSM exhibits desirable adhesion ability to periodontal tissue with prolonged residence time, and reduces the local bacterial load significantly in vivo, thus effectively inhibiting the progression of periodontitis and reducing the destruction of periodontal tissue. Collectively, it is promising to serve as a periodontal topical medication, which is of great significance for controlling periodontal infection and improving the clinical outcome.