Enhanced Periodontal Regeneration by Novel Single Application Sustained Release Nano-Structured Doxycycline Films.

The use of different drug classes as host modulating agents has been postulated to have significance as an adjunctive remedy curing chronic periodontitis. In this study nano-structured films containing doxycyclin (DOX) were evaluated for such purpose. Nano DOX/chitosan particulate system was prepared using spray drying technique and was then incorporated in PVA-based films. The particles were evaluated for particle size, zeta potential and possible drug/polymer interaction. The films were also tested for in-vitro drug release and clinical efficacy compared with placebo and DOX-loaded films. The formed particles had a zeta potential of + 13.8 mV and particle size of 52.86 nm with a polydispersity of PDI=0.946. No significant drug/polymer interaction was detected by DSC thermal analysis. In-vitro DOX release was sustained for about a week with the nano-structured films showing 23% of the drug released compared with 44% released from DOX films. Clinical efficacy was done on 150 periodontal pockets from patients suffering from moderate chronic periodontitis. Following scaling and root planning they were divided into three groups; group I receiving nano-structured (DOX), group II receiving DOX and group III receiving placebo films. Evaluation was done both clinically and biochemically at base-line, 1 week, 1 month and 2 months following drug application. Clinical findings indicated a significant effect of both nano-structured and DOX films in improving the measured parameters compared with the control and placebo groups.