Non-Invasive Photodynamic Therapy against -Periodontitis-causing Bacteria

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 3;9(1):8248. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44498-4.

Abstract

Periodontitis is initiated by causative bacteria in the gingival sulcus. However, as the lesion is often deep and out of circulation system and biofilm is frequently formed on the bacteria cluster, use of antibacterial agents has been limited and the invasive method such as curettage is thought as an only treatment. Here we designed non-invasive photodynamic therapy (PDT), with the ointment which leads a photosensitizer deliverable into gingival sulcus. We assessed whether 650 nm light-emitting-diode (LED) penetrates the 3-mm soft tissue and effectively activates a photosensitizer toluidine-blue-O (TBO) through the thickness to remove Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum species. The oral ointment formulation was optimized to efficiently deliver the photosensitizer into gingival sulcus and its efficacy of PDT was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo models. Four weeks of TBO-formulation mediated-PDT treatment significantly attenuated periodontitis-induced alveolar bone loss and inflammatory cytokines production in rats. These results confirm that a 650 nm LED indeed penetrates the gingiva and activates our TBO formulation which is sufficiently delivered to, and retained within, the gingival sulcus; thus, it effectively kills the bacteria that reside around the gingival sulcus. Collectively, TBO-mediated PDT using LED irradiation has potential as a safe adjunctive procedure for periodontitis treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Bone Resorption / pathology
  • Drug Liberation
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / drug effects*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Periodontitis / drug therapy*
  • Periodontitis / microbiology*
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis / drug effects*
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tolonium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Tolonium Chloride / therapeutic use
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Tolonium Chloride