Characterization of a Thermo-Sensitive Injectable Hydrogel as an Iloprost Delivery System for Dental Use

Abstract

Iloprost increases the expression of angiogenic factors and increases dental pulp flow, suggesting the potential of iloprost as a biomolecule to promote dental pulp regeneration. However, the methods to clinically deliver iloprost into the limited root canal area of a tooth and control its release are limited. The purpose of this study was to prepare a thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogel from pluronic F127 (PF127) for delivering iloprost to induce dental pulp regeneration. The PF127 hydrogels were fabricated using thermal crosslinking. The maximum cumulative release iloprost from the hydrogel at 25°C was 60%. No significant cytotoxicity or morphological changes were observed in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) at any of the PF127 gel concentrations of the iloprost carrier. Moreover, the effect of the 20%wt PF127 gels containing iloprost on the expression of VEGF in HDPCs increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression at 72 h. The thermo-sensitive hydrogel at 20%wt PF127 containing iloprost could be used for prolonged drug release in dental applications.