Nanocomposite based drug delivery for periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is the term used to describe some pathological conditions characterized by degeneration and inflammation of gums, periodontal ligaments, alveolar bone, and dental cementum. Periodontal disease involves destruction of alveolar bone around the teeth leading to defects or rather loss of the tooth if left untreated. This condition is caused by a chronic, mixed infection of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate is an antiseptic, antifungal and bactericidal agent. CHX inhibits plaque formation by binding to anionic salivary glycoproteins and bacteria. Nano Hydroxyapatite (nHAP) is calcium phosphate in morphology and composition like the human hard tissues. Delivery of medications directly into the periodontal pockets alters the inflammatory response and reduces the pathogenic microbiota, an aspect which has attracted great interes. Result: The CHX Nanocomposites were non-toxic to human cells and promoted cell adhesion, proliferation, and spreading. The CHX Nanocomposites were found to be satisfactory in all respects, and CHX encapsulated in nanocomposites may be attractive candidates for the treatment of periodontal disease