Studies on development of controlled delivery of combination drug(s) to periodontal pocket

• Published in: Indian journal of dental research Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 72 - 83
• Main Authors: Tiwari, Gaurav, Tiwari, Ruchi, Rai, Awani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mangalore Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2010; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Antibacterial agents; Bacteria; Bioadhesive polymers; controlled release; doxycycline; Drug delivery systems; E coli; Mechanical properties; Methylcellulose; metronidazole; Mouth; periodontal diseases
• ISSN: 0970-9290; 1998-3603
• DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.62814

Aim: The aim of this study to develop the controlled delivery of combination drug(s) to periodontal pocket. Materials and Methods: In the present investigation mucoadhesive gel formulations were prepared using carboxy methylcellulose (CMC), methylcellulose (MC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP), polycarbophil (PC), and poloxamer. Each formulation was characterized in terms of polarizing light microscopy, gelation, gel melting, hardness, compressibility, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, syringeability, adhesion to a mucin disk, rheological studies, drug release, and antibacterial activities. Addition of CMC and PVP to the gel favored hexagonal phase formation. The gelation temperature was decreased linearly with an increasing concentration of drug(s), whereas, the melting temperature increased with the concentration of drug(s). Increasing the concentrations of each polymeric component significantly increased formulation hardness, compressibility, adhesiveness, mucoadhesion, and syringeability, yet a decreased cohesiveness. Increased time of contact between the formulation and mucin significantly increased the required force of detachment. Drug release from all formulations was non-diffusion controlled and significantly decreased as the concentration of the polymer was increased, due to the concomitant increased viscosity of the formulations and the swelling kinetics of PC, following contact with the dissolution fluid. Result: Antibacterial studies revealed that a gel with 30% HEC had a growth inhibition zone on agar with all three strains. Conclusion: Formulations containing HEC exhibited superior physical characteristics for improved drug delivery to the periodontal pocket and are now the subject of long-term clinical investigations.