Abstract
Currently available drug delivery systems for oral diseases suffer from short retention time and poor local concentrations at the target site. A biodegradable stimulus-responsive hydrogel was synthesized in the present study to evaluate its application as an environmentally sensitive carrier for on-demand intraoral drug delivery. The hydrogel was synthesized from diacrylate-containing polyethylene glycol–based scaffolds and a cysteine-terminated peptide crosslinker (CGPQG↓IWGQC) via a Michael-type addition reaction. Because CGPQG↓IWGQC can be cleaved by matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8), minocycline hydrochloride, bovine serum albumin, or an antibacterial peptide (KSL) was incorporated into the scaffolds to evaluate the MMP-8-responsive release behavior of the on-demand drug delivery system. Hydrogel characterization and gelation kinetics were examined with gel time, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and measurements of rheologic parameters. Degradation behavior and MMP-8-responsive drug release were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography and protein-specific assay. Biocompatibility evaluation indicated that the hydrogels were noncytotoxic. Antibacterial testing demonstrated that the released drugs were able to maintain bioactivity. Taken together, these results suggest that the MMP-8-sensitive hydrogel is a promising candidate for on-demand intraoral localized drug delivery. Because MMP-8 is one of the most important biomarkers for periodontitis, the MMP-8-responsive hydrogel has potential to be used for in situ adaptive degradation in response to chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis. This notion has to be tested in animal models of periodontal disease.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
