New biodegradable rods may deliver better antibiotic treatment for periodontal disease

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 2. December 2019

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HALLE (SAALE), Germany: As has been well established, the prevalence of periodontal disease globally remains quite high despite increased awareness of the importance of oral health. Though there are numerous treatment modalities available, each comes with its own drawbacks. A team of researchers has sought to change this, however, by developing flexible, biodegradable rods that can accurately deliver antibiotics to the diseased portions of the periodontium.

The researchers, from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, aimed to develop a drug delivery system that would provide improved local antimicrobial treatment of periodontal disease through improved drug stability, easier application and controlled release of the drug or drugs in question. Antibiotics are often administered in pill form, which can affect the whole body and lead to side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, as well as contribute to increased antibiotic resistance.

To counter this, the research group utilised pharmaceutical-grade polymers to produce small biodegradable rods that could slowly release a mixture of the antibiotic minocycline and magnesium stearate, a proven pharmaceutical excipient. The rods can be inserted directly into the gingival pocket of the periodontally compromised patient, and since the body can break them down, they do not have to be removed.

“The rods are much more effective in vitro than previous products on the market,” said Martin Kirchberg, co-author of the study and a research assistant at Martin Luther University’s Institute of Pharmacy. Kirchberg explained to Dental Tribune International that clinical testing of the rod is likely to occur quite soon, since the pharmaceutical ingredients are already commercially available.

“Currently we are in the planning phase of a clinical study,” said Kirchberg. “The extrudates are supposed to be produced in a hospital pharmacy under GMP [good manufacturing practice] conditions. Subsequently, these extrudates shall be made available to patients under the supervision of seasoned periodontists.”

The project was financially supported by the German state of Saxony-Anhalt with funds from the European Regional Development Fund.

The study, titled “Extrudates of lipophilic tetracycline complexes: A new option for periodontitis therapy”, was published online on 31 October 2019 in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, ahead of inclusion in an issue.

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