Biomaterials for Oral and Dental Drug Delivery

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3035

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
Interests: drug delivery systems; controlled drug release; biopolymers; mucoadhesive carrier; pharmaceutical technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy and Biomaterials, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
Interests: drug delivery systems; biomaterials; functional foods; pharmaceutical products; wound care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of oral and dental drug delivery is rapidly evolving, driven by advances in biomaterials science, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering. This Special Issue, “Biomaterials for Oral and Dental Drug Delivery”, aims to highlight innovative strategies that enhance the efficacy, safety, and patient compliance of therapeutic approaches targeting the oral cavity and dental tissues.

We welcome contributions that address fundamental mechanisms of drug release, the design of novel biomaterials, and their applications in treating oral diseases, periodontal regeneration, and dental tissue repair. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, bioactive and biodegradable carriers, nanoparticle- and hydrogel-based delivery systems, mucoadhesive platforms, and smart materials responsive to the unique environment of the oral cavity.

By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives from materials science, dentistry, pharmacology, and bioengineering, this Special Issue seeks to advance the translation of innovative biomaterial-based drug delivery systems into clinical practice. Original research, reviews, and cutting-edge technological reports are welcome, especially those that emphasize mechanistic insights, therapeutic innovations, and their clinical relevance.

Dr. Magdalena Paczkowska-Walendowska
Prof. Dr. Judyta Cielecka-Piontek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oral drug delivery
  • dental drug delivery
  • biomaterials
  • mucoadhesive systems
  • tissue regeneration
  • periodontal therapy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 23602 KB  
Article
Development of a Bioactive Dental Barrier Membrane Based on PCL/Collagen and PVA/Hydroxyapatite Layers with Amoxicillin-Loaded Electrosprayed Coating
by Hilal Gülsena Nur Akkus, Ayse Betül Bingol, Büsra Oktay, Buse Ozsan, Ahmet Akif Kızılkurtlu, Azime Erarslan, Fatih Ciftci and Cem Bülent Ustündag
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(5), 610; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18050610 - 17 May 2026
Viewed by 339
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Guided bone regeneration (GBR) in dental applications requires scaffolds that possess balanced mechanical strength, controlled biodegradability, and excellent biological performance; therefore, this study aims to develop and evaluate a multilayered biofunctional dental membrane designed to enhance mechanical, biological, and antibacterial performance. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Guided bone regeneration (GBR) in dental applications requires scaffolds that possess balanced mechanical strength, controlled biodegradability, and excellent biological performance; therefore, this study aims to develop and evaluate a multilayered biofunctional dental membrane designed to enhance mechanical, biological, and antibacterial performance. Methods: The multilayered membrane was fabricated using sequential electrospinning and electrospraying techniques to form a polycaprolactone (PCL)/Collagen first layer and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Collagen/Hydroxyapatite (HAp) second layer, topped with a final electrospray coating of PVA/Amoxicillin. Characterization was performed via SEM, FTIR, and EDS, followed by evaluations of tensile properties, swelling behavior, hydrolytic degradation, in vitro drug release, disk diffusion antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and 7-day L929 fibroblast cytocompatibility (ANOVA/Tukey, p < 0.05). Results: SEM, FTIR, and EDS analyses confirmed uniform nanofiber morphology, homogeneous HAp distribution, and successful integration of bioactive compounds. The membrane exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 15.17 N, strain of 25.24%, and stress of 2.16 MPa, while swelling reached ~100% within 2 h and degradation stabilized around 4% weight loss after 48 h. Drug release profiles showed a rapid amoxicillin release in the first 50 min, plateauing at approximately 4.5 mg/L by 350 min, with distinct antibacterial inhibition zones, and the PCL/Col–PVA/Col/HAp–PVA/Amox group demonstrated the highest cell viability (~140%) after 7 days, significantly exceeding the control groups (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These quantitative findings validate the fabricated multilayered membrane’s potential as a mechanically robust, biodegradable, antibacterial, and bioactive scaffold for advanced guided bone regeneration in dental applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials for Oral and Dental Drug Delivery)
Show Figures

Figure 1

35 pages, 24803 KB  
Article
Multi-Antibiotic Porous Systems for Tailored Drug Delivery in Dentistry: Formulation Strategy, Physicochemical Properties, and Release
by Monika Biernat, Anna Sylla, Krzysztof Adam Stępień, Joanna Giebułtowicz, Lidia Ciołek, Piotr Szterner, Paulina Tymowicz-Grzyb, Bartosz Kózka and Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(4), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18040409 - 26 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 779
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Although triple antibiotic paste is effective in managing infected primary teeth, its incomplete removability from tooth structure remains a major limitation, prompting the search for alternative drug-delivery systems. The aim of this study was to obtain a multi-antibiotic porous composite system [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Although triple antibiotic paste is effective in managing infected primary teeth, its incomplete removability from tooth structure remains a major limitation, prompting the search for alternative drug-delivery systems. The aim of this study was to obtain a multi-antibiotic porous composite system for tailored drug delivery, to develop a formulation strategy, and to characterize the physicochemical properties and drug release. Methods: The developed composites consisted of a porous composite matrix (PCM; chitosan/bioactive filler) and two or three antibiotics (ciprofloxacin [CIP], metronidazole [MET], clindamycin [CLI]). Three methods of incorporating antibiotics were used: applying an antibiotic solution to the stabilized PCM; introducing an antibiotic solution into the polymer matrix; and introducing an antibiotic into the polymer matrix as nanoparticles. The physicochemical properties of the composites, including microstructure, compressive strength, and swelling, were assessed. The antibiotic release profile was assessed for up to 168 h. Results: The most advantageous method for introducing MET and CLI, in terms of release profile, was applying them to the PCM surface, whereas ciprofloxacin exhibited stable release when incorporated directly into the polymer matrix and entrapped during the stabilization process. The composites with nanoparticles, including MET or CIP, did not release any active substances during the experimental period. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the developed formulation strategy enables the production of composites that rapidly release substantial amounts of the active substances within a short time frame and maintain their concentration for an extended period, which may be beneficial for the treatment of bacterial infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials for Oral and Dental Drug Delivery)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 2932 KB  
Review
Chitosan Sponges as Next-Generation Biomaterials for Dental Tissue Engineering and Periodontal Regeneration
by Magdalena Paczkowska-Walendowska, Maciej Kulawik, Jakub Kwiatek, Dimitrios Bikiaris and Judyta Cielecka-Piontek
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(12), 1622; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17121622 - 17 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
Chitosan, a naturally derived polysaccharide obtained by chitin deacetylation, has attracted considerable attention in dentistry as a multifunctional biomaterial owing to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable physicochemical properties. This narrative review provides an up-to-date overview of the use of chitosan-based sponges in [...] Read more.
Chitosan, a naturally derived polysaccharide obtained by chitin deacetylation, has attracted considerable attention in dentistry as a multifunctional biomaterial owing to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable physicochemical properties. This narrative review provides an up-to-date overview of the use of chitosan-based sponges in dental tissue engineering, bone regeneration, post-extraction wound management, and periodontal therapy. Chitosan sponges, characterized by high porosity, flexibility, and superior absorbency, serve as effective wound dressings, drug delivery carriers, and scaffolds that promote cell proliferation and tissue regeneration. Their intrinsic antibacterial, antifungal, hemostatic, and immunomodulatory properties further enhance their therapeutic value in managing complex oral conditions. In periodontal treatment, they enable localized drug delivery and support soft and hard tissue healing, while in post-extraction care, they aid hemostasis and reduce complications such as alveolar osteitis. Moreover, their osteoconductive and osteoinductive potential positions them as promising materials for alveolar bone repair and implantology. Chemical modification of chitosan and the incorporation of bioactive compounds allow customization of sponge formulations to meet specific clinical needs. Despite encouraging preclinical findings, challenges remain due to variability in chitosan sources, differences in the degree of deacetylation, and limited clinical validation. This review highlights the potential of chitosan sponges as innovative tools in regenerative dentistry and underscores the need for further standardization, mechanistic studies, and long-term clinical trials to ensure their safe and effective translation into dental practice. Moreover, the broad clinical applications of chitosan sponges beyond dentistry confirm their potential as a universal biomaterial platform in regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials for Oral and Dental Drug Delivery)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop