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Volume 18
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10.3390/ma18174029
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Article

Physical–Chemical Assessment and Antimicrobial Activity of Chlortetracycline-Loaded Collagen Sponges

by
Graţiela Teodora Tihan
1,
Camelia Ungureanu
1,
Ileana Rău
1,
Roxana Gabriela Zgârian
1,*,
Răzvan Constantin Barbaresso
1,
Mădălina Georgiana Albu Kaya
2,
Cristina-Elena Dinu-Pîrvu
3,4 and
Mihaela Violeta Ghica
3,4
1
Department of General Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
2
Department of Collagen, Division of Leather and Footwear Research Institute, National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather, 93 Ion Minulescu Str., 031215 Bucharest, Romania
3
Department of Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
4
Innovative Therapeutic Structures Research and Development Center (InnoTher), “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2025, 18(17), 4029; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174029
Submission received: 29 July 2025 / Revised: 24 August 2025 / Accepted: 25 August 2025 / Published: 28 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration: Innovations and Clinical Applications)
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Abstract

Collagen-based biomaterials are increasingly explored in dentistry for their ability to deliver drugs locally and support healing. In this study, we developed chlortetracycline-loaded collagen sponges aimed at preventing postoperative infections. Five formulations were prepared by lyophilization, each with the same collagen-to-drug ratio but different glutaraldehyde (GA) concentrations: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% (w/w) relative to dry collagen. The sponges were characterized using FT-IR and UV–VIS–NIR spectroscopy, and their swelling capacity, enzymatic stability, and drug release kinetics were evaluated. Antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Statistical differences between formulations were assessed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test (p < 0.05). All sponges released the antibiotic rapidly within the first 60 min, followed by a sustained release for up to 10 h. The non-crosslinked sponge showed the highest antimicrobial effect, while the 0.25% GA formulation offered a good balance between stability and bioactivity. While higher cross-linking enhanced structural stability, it progressively reduced antimicrobial efficacy, highlighting a crucial design trade-off. These findings underline the need to fine-tune cross-linking conditions to achieve both durability and strong antimicrobial action in collagen-based drug delivery systems for dental applications.
Keywords: collagen; chlortetracycline; drug release; antimicrobial activity collagen; chlortetracycline; drug release; antimicrobial activity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tihan, G.T.; Ungureanu, C.; Rău, I.; Zgârian, R.G.; Barbaresso, R.C.; Albu Kaya, M.G.; Dinu-Pîrvu, C.-E.; Ghica, M.V. Physical–Chemical Assessment and Antimicrobial Activity of Chlortetracycline-Loaded Collagen Sponges. Materials 2025, 18, 4029. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174029

AMA Style

Tihan GT, Ungureanu C, Rău I, Zgârian RG, Barbaresso RC, Albu Kaya MG, Dinu-Pîrvu C-E, Ghica MV. Physical–Chemical Assessment and Antimicrobial Activity of Chlortetracycline-Loaded Collagen Sponges. Materials. 2025; 18(17):4029. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174029

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tihan, Graţiela Teodora, Camelia Ungureanu, Ileana Rău, Roxana Gabriela Zgârian, Răzvan Constantin Barbaresso, Mădălina Georgiana Albu Kaya, Cristina-Elena Dinu-Pîrvu, and Mihaela Violeta Ghica. 2025. "Physical–Chemical Assessment and Antimicrobial Activity of Chlortetracycline-Loaded Collagen Sponges" Materials 18, no. 17: 4029. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174029

APA Style

Tihan, G. T., Ungureanu, C., Rău, I., Zgârian, R. G., Barbaresso, R. C., Albu Kaya, M. G., Dinu-Pîrvu, C.-E., & Ghica, M. V. (2025). Physical–Chemical Assessment and Antimicrobial Activity of Chlortetracycline-Loaded Collagen Sponges. Materials, 18(17), 4029. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174029

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