Objective: To characterize and deliver fabricated CHX-loaded PLGA-nanoparticles inside micron-sized dentinal-tubules of demineralized dentin-substrates and resin-dentin interface.
Methods: Nanoparticles fabricated by emulsion evaporation were assessed in-vitro by different techniques. Delivery of drug-loaded nanoparticles to demineralized dentin substrates, interaction with collagen matrix, and ex-vivo CHX-release profiles using extracted teeth connected to experimental setup simulating pulpal hydrostatic pressure were investigated. Furthermore, nanoparticles association/interaction with a commercial dentin-adhesive applied to demineralized dentin substrates were examined.
Results: The results showed that the formulated nanoparticles demonstrated attractive physicochemical properties, low cytotoxicity, potent antibacterial efficacy, and slow degradation and gradual CHX release profiles. Nanoparticles delivered efficiently inside dentinal-tubules structure to sufficient depth (>10μm) against the simulated upward pulpal hydrostatic-pressure, even after bonding-resins infiltration and were attached/retained on collagen-fibrils. These results verified the potential significance of this newly introduced drug-delivery therapeutic strategy for future clinical applications and promote for a new era of future dental research.
Significance: This innovative drug-delivery strategy has proven to be a reliable method for delivering treatments that could be elaborated for other clinical applications in adhesive and restorative dentistry.
Keywords: Adhesion; Chlorhexidine; Dentin; Drug delivery; Nanoparticles.
Copyright © 2017 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.