Preparation and characterization of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, glycyrrhizin, vitamin-D3, and citric acid-loaded mucoadhesive pectin microparticles for the management of dental caries.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries, a prevalent oral disease, results from bacterial biofilm formation and enamel demineralization, leading to tooth decay and associated complications. Conventional treatments face challenges such as poor drug bioavailability and antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to develop a mucoadhesive localized drug delivery system (LDDS) incorporating Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, glycyrrhizin (GL), citric acid (CA), and pectin (PC) to enhance antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties for effective dental caries management. METHODS: Microparticles were synthesized via ionic gelation and characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), etc. RESULTS: In vitro assays, including antimicrobial (agar well diffusion, MIC, MBC), anti-biofilm, and anti-inflammatory (cytokine analysis), demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus and S. mutans with notable reductions in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) and increased IL-10 expression. The formulation also exhibited strong antioxidant potential in DPPH scavenging assays. In vivo studies on Wistar rats confirmed prolonged retention in the oral cavity and effective antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, further supported by histopathological analysis. The findings indicate that the developed microparticles offer a promising alternative for dental caries treatment by ensuring sustained drug release, improved bioavailability, and enhanced therapeutic outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the potential of probiotic-based mucoadhesive drug delivery systems in oral health management. It highlights their role in reducing reliance on conventional antibiotics, mitigating bacterial resistance, and improving patient compliance.