Periodontal treatment by local drug delivery using resorbable Base materials; in vitro comparative study assessing drug delivery properties of cellulose acetate and alginate strips

Periodontal diseases are characterized by microbial colonization of the pockets; the elimination of these microbes helps in achieving good prognosis along with the control of inflammation in the treatment of this disease and use of anti-microbials and anti inflammatory agents is an invaluable aid. The use of local drug delivery has been of added advantage over systemically given drugs, to date many local drug delivery vehicles were used which include drug incorporated Gels, resorbable microspheres etc but a very economical and effective drug delivery system was very much needed for wide spread use of this mode of drug delivery for treatment of periodontal infection, which happens to be the most prevalent cause of tooth loss. In this invitro study, the drug release patterns of two most economical and easily made resorbable base materials like sodium alginate and cellulose acetate strips incorporated with drugs most commonly used in treatment of Periodontitis like Metronidazole and Indomethacin (used as anti inflammatory agent)were evaluated, in salivary substitutes using spectrophotometer. The release evaluations were performed at 1st hour, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 24th and 48th hours, the temperature of the medium (salivary substitute) in which these strips were evaluated was maintained at 98oF using an electronically controlled conventional induction plate to mimic the normal body temperature. The evaluation of release patterns showed that the onset of drug release (of either Indomethacin or the Metronidazole) was very quick from the sodium alginate and the near 100% release was achieved with both the drugs within 24 hours where as with cellulose acetate the onset of drug release was a little slower starting almost 2 - 3hrs later than sodium alginate and the release pattern was very slow achieving only approximately 67-69% after 48 hours.