Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Nanoparticles
FIGURE 23.7
Schematic diagram of nanoparticles administered in periodontal pockets.
TCS-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (9.09% of TCS) were injected in the bottom of the experimental
pockets; sterilized water was applied to the control periodontal pockets. After 15 days, a clear differ-
ence between control and experimental sites was detected. It was concluded that TCS nanoparticles
diminished the inflammation at the experimental sites.
Figure 23.8
shows photographs of the experi-
mental sites 8 and 15 days after the administration of the nanoparticles.
Natural extracts have also been incorporated into polymeric nanoparticles for the treatment of
dental caries and gingivitis infections
[26]
. The leaf extract of Harungana madagascariensis
(a popular drug native to Africa and Madagascar) is known for its biological properties with mainly
antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects. The in vitro bactericidal activity of the ethyl acetate
H. madagascariensis leaf extracts (HLE) on the main oral bacterial strains largely implicated in
dental caries and gingivitis infections, and the possibility of potentialization of HLE antibacterial
effects using the PLGA nanoparticles was analyzed. HLE/PLGA nanoparticles smaller than 300 nm
were obtained by the solvent displacement technique. Encapsulation efficiencies were higher than
75%. The in vitro bactericidal activity results revealed that the incorporation of HLE into the biode-
gradable colloidal carrier increased the antimicrobial effects. When HLE was incorporated into
PLGA nanoparticles, a reduction in the bactericidal concentration compared to HLE was observed.
