Engineering of bioactive nanocomplexes on dental floss for targeted gingival therapy.

Abstract

Periodontitis induced by chronic subgingival infection is a ubiquitous disease that causes systemic inflammatory consequences and poses a negative impact on quality of life. The disease is treated and potentially prevented by patient's self-care aimed at eliminating the oral pathogens from the region. Currently available products for interdental self-care, including dental floss and interdental brush, have limited ability to prevent the disease. Here, we report a coated dental floss thread, termed "nanofloss," which uses polyphenol-based nanocoating to functionalize the floss thread with therapeutic agents. Multiple therapeutics can be integrated into the nanofloss including antibacterial small molecules and proteins. Flossing with nanofloss-delivered therapeutic agents to the challenging subgingival region with long-term retention even against the flushing action of the oral fluid in vivo. Our in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that chlorhexidine gluconate-loaded nanofloss effectively treats the subgingival infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis. Collectively, the nanofloss offers a promising and easily usable tool for targeted self-care of subgingival infection against periodontitis.

• Authors: Mayuka Nakajima, Nao Nakajima, Junling Guo, Samir Mitragotri
• Journal: Bioengineering & translational medicine (Bioeng Transl Med) Vol. 8 Issue 2 Pg. e10452 (Mar 2023) ISSN: 2380-6761 [Print] United States
• PMID: 36925712 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers.