Abstract
This work demonstrated for the first time the synthesis of novel chlorhexidine particles containing strontium and zinc, to provide an effective, affordable, and safe intervention in the treatment of recurrent infections found in Medicine and Dentistry. The CHX-SrCl2 and CHX-ZnCl2 particles were synthesized by co-precipitation of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHXD) and zinc chloride or strontium chloride, where particle size was manipulated by controlling processing time and temperature. The CHX-ZnCl2 and CHX-SrCl2 particles were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XRD. UV-Vis using artificial saliva (pH 4 and pH 7) was used to measure the drug release and ICP-OES ion release. The antibacterial properties were examined against P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and F. nucleatum subsp. Polymorphum, and cytotoxicity was evaluated using mouse fibroblast L929 cells. The novel particles were as safe as commercial CHXD, with antibacterial activity against a range of oral pathogens. UV-Vis results run in artificial saliva (pH 4 and pH 7) indicated a higher release rate in acidic rather than neutral conditions. The CHX-ZnCl2 particles provided the functionality of a smart Zinc and CHX release, with respect to environmental pH, allowing responsive antibacterial applications in the field of medicine and dentistry.
Highlights
Antiseptics are widely applied for preventing and reducing wound and surgical infections, which continue to be a major problem in health care [1]
Chlorhexidine (CHX) is an antibacterial agent [5,6,7] widely applied in medicine and dentistry [8,9]
chlorhexidine diacetate (CHXD) and chlorhexidine di-gluconate are the common components of antibacterial drugs that have been extensively applied in the field of medicine and dentistry [40,41]
Summary
Antiseptics are widely applied for preventing and reducing wound and surgical infections, which continue to be a major problem in health care [1]. This can be difficult to manage in developing countries due to lack of resources, high costs, and special storage conditions of antibacterial agents [2]. As a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, CHX provides both bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects by producing non-specific binding to the negatively charged membrane phospholipids of the bacteria. This leads to alteration in bacterial osmotic equilibrium. When the CHX concentration is increased the cytoplasm contents precipitate, causing cell death [17,18]
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