Polymeric Materials and Drug Delivery Systems for Dental and Oral Health Applications

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 January 2026 | Viewed by 1313

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Medical Dentistry, "Apollonia" University of Iasi, Pacurari Street, No. 11, 700511 Iasi, Romania
Interests: drug delivery; biomaterials; polymer nanoparticles; liposomes; hydrogels
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Guest Editor
“Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environment Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Interests: polysaccharide modification; bioactive polymers; biomaterials; hydrogels; interpenetrated networks; micro- and nanoparticles (spheres and capsules); hybrid and functionalized nanoparticles for drug targeting; drug delivery; polymer–drug conjugates
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, both new polymer materials and polymer-based systems have been designed for medical and dental applications. Concretely, in dentistry, materials and systems are not only needed in preventive, restorative, regenerative therapies, but also for the treatment of inflammatory and bacterial diseases. Therefore, in this Special Issue, we will focus on new polymer materials and systems with applications in dentistry. Examples of dental applications include the prevention and treatment of dental caries; periodontal diseases and infectious diseases; management and treatment of oro-dental trauma; and oral cancer treatment.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Anca Niculina Cadinoiu
Prof. Dr. Marcel Popa
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • prevention
  • dentistry
  • regeneration
  • drug delivery systems
  • antimicrobial properties
  • topical delivery
  • cancer therapy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1769 KB  
Article
Antibacterial Resin Composites with Sustained Chlorhexidine Release: One-Year In Vitro Study
by Flávia Gonçalves, Larissa Sampaio Tavares Silva, Julia Noborikawa Roschel, Greca de Souza, Luiza de Paiva Mello Campos, Gustavo Henrique Varca, Duclerc Parra, Mirko Ayala Perez, Antonio Carlos Gordilho, William Cunha Brandt and Leticia Boaro
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(9), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17091144 - 1 Sep 2025
Viewed by 517
Abstract
Background: The addition of chlorhexidine in dental restorative materials is a promising strategy to reduce the recurrence of tooth decay lesions. However, the main challenge is to develop materials with antimicrobial activity in the long term. Objective: This study analyses the effect of [...] Read more.
Background: The addition of chlorhexidine in dental restorative materials is a promising strategy to reduce the recurrence of tooth decay lesions. However, the main challenge is to develop materials with antimicrobial activity in the long term. Objective: This study analyses the effect of filler type and concentration of resin composites supplemented with chlorhexidine loaded in carrier montmorillonite particles (MMT/CHX) regarding their chemical, physical, and short- and long-term antimicrobial proprieties. Materials: Experimental composites were synthesized with 0, 30, or 60% filler in two ratios, 70/30 and 80/20, of barium glass/colloidal silica, respectively, and 5 wt% MMT/CHX. Conversion was measured using near Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. Sorption and solubility were determined by specimen weight before and after drying and immersing in water. Flexural strength (FS) and elastic modulus (E) were determined by three bending tests using a universal test machine. Chlorhexidine release was monitored for 50 days. Streptococcus mutans UA159 was used in all microbiological assays. Inhibition halo assay was performed for 12 months and, also, biofilm growth for the specimens and colony-forming unit (CFU). Remineralization assay was used on restored teeth using measurements of microhardness Knoop and CFUs. Results: Conversion, sorption, and solubility were not affected by filler type and concentration. FS and E increase with the filler concentration, independent from filler type. Chlorhexidine was significantly released for 15 days for all experimental materials, and the increase in filler concentration decreased its release. Halo inhibition was observed for a longer time (12 months) in materials with 60 wt% filler at 70/30 proportion. Also, 60 wt% filler materials, independent from the filler ratio, reduced the CFU in relation to the control group from 8 to 12 months. In the remineralization assay, besides the absence of differences in hardness among the groups, after biofilm growth, the CFU was also significantly lower in materials with 60 wt% filler. Conclusions: Materials with 60% filler, preferentially with 70% barium glass and 30% silica, and 5% MMT/CHX particles demonstrated long-term antimicrobial activity, reaching 12 months of effectiveness. Also, this formulation was associated with higher mechanical properties and similar conversion, sorption, and solubility compared to the other materials. Full article
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15 pages, 1767 KB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Electrospun Polylactide Fiber Fleeces Against Periodontopathogenic Species
by Bernd W. Sigusch, Markus Reise, Stefan Kranz, Julius Beck, Kerstin Wagner, André Guellmar and Markus Heyder
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(7), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17070821 - 24 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The effect of fusidic acid on oral bacteria, especially on Gram- negative periodontopathogenic species, has not yet been investigated. This in vitro study aimed to analyze the antibacterial effect of fusidic acid alone and as an active component in electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-D/L-lactide) fiber [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The effect of fusidic acid on oral bacteria, especially on Gram- negative periodontopathogenic species, has not yet been investigated. This in vitro study aimed to analyze the antibacterial effect of fusidic acid alone and as an active component in electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-D/L-lactide) fiber fleeces. Methods: Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of fusidic acid and metronidazole (control) were determined for various oral bacteria. Eluates were collected from electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-D/L-lactide) fiber fleeces loaded with 10 and 20 wt% fusidic acid over a period of 28 d. Antibacterial activity was analyzed by means of a microdilution assay. Cytotoxicity was observed toward human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Results: All tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative oral bacteria were susceptible to fusidic acid. The lowest MIC was observed for Porphyromonas gingivalis (MIC < 0.062 µg/mL). Compared to the antibacterial activity of metronidazole, that of Porphyromonas gingivalis was suppressed by significant lower fusidic acid concentrations (p < 0.01). The eluates obtained from electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-D/L-lactide) fiber fleeces inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis, S. aureus, A. viscosus, and A. neslundii over a course of 28 days. The largest inhibition zones were detected for Porphyromonas gingivalis in case of the 20 wt% concentrations. The eluates were not cytotoxic toward HGFs. Conclusions: It was shown that fusidic acid has significant antibacterial potential. The results of the present investigation suggest that fusidic acid alone or delivered by electrospun fiber fleeces might be attractive for controlling oral pathogenic bacteria. Full article
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