Novel Dual-Crosslinked Hydrogel Developed for Innovative Local Treatment of Periodontitis

Recently, important progress has been made in a research study on the treatment of periodontitis. Using hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as raw materials, researchers have successfully developed a dual-crosslinked network hydrogel with injectability, self-healing ability and antibacterial activity. It is expected to solve the problems of easy loss and poor stability of traditional drug carriers in periodontitis therapy.

As a common chronic oral inflammatory disease caused by bacterial infection, periodontitis can lead to periodontal tissue damage and even tooth loss if left untreated. The current clinical strategy combining scaling and root planing with local medication faces a challenge: drugs are easily washed away by saliva and gingival crevicular fluid, making it difficult to maintain an effective concentration. Although conventional injectable hydrogels can adapt to the irregular structure of periodontal pockets, most show weak mechanical properties and lack self-healing capacity, which limits their performance in the complex oral environment.

To overcome these limitations, the research team innovatively used borax and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) as crosslinking agents, and constructed a dual-crosslinked network based on dynamic imine bonds and boronate ester bonds through a simple mixing process. This unique structure provides the hydrogel with multiple advantages: it can be injected minimally invasively, forms a gel in situ inside periodontal pockets, and can self-repair after damage to resist chewing forces. Experimental results show that the hydrogel has a mechanical strength of 18.20 kPa, a sustained drug release period of up to 168 hours, and high antibacterial rates of 86.18% against Escherichia coli and 85.69% against Staphylococcus aureus, respectively.

In addition, the hydrogel is composed of natural polysaccharides and synthetic polymers with excellent biocompatibility, and exhibits good biodegradability and biosafety. The borax component can also promote osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells, supporting periodontal tissue repair. By adjusting the concentration of PVA, the researchers optimized the properties of the hydrogel. A series of in vitro experiments, including drug release, biotoxicity, antibacterial activity and degradation tests, verified that the hydrogel meets the requirements for local drug delivery in periodontitis treatment.

Experts noted that this multifunctional hydrogel breaks through the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems, achieving precise delivery, long-term antibacterial activity and environmental adaptability. It provides a promising strategy for the local treatment of periodontitis and shows great potential for clinical translation.