A Novel Use of Tissue Conditioner as a Local Drug Delivery Medium for Microbial Control around Dental Implants: In Vitro Release Studies of Antibiotics and Curcumin

Abstract

Microbe mediated inflammation is one of the common causes of peri-implantitis soon after surgery. A medium that delivers antibiotics locally in a sustained manner may mitigate the common side effects of the antibiotic especially gastric irritation. To determine the effectiveness of tissue conditioner as a carrying medium to deliver antibiotics and curcumin as an alternative at an implant surgical site post operatively, retaining the properties of tissue conditioner. The antibiotics amoxycillin-clavulonic acid and metronidazole, and the antimicrobial agent curcumin are incorporated into tissue conditioner (TC) at various concentrations. The antimicrobial properties are studied using antimicrobial sensitivity tests against Peptostreptococcus, Fusobacterium, and Porphyromonas. In addition, the flow properties and viscosity of selected TC-antimicrobial combinations are analyzed. Relevant statistical analyses are carried out to assess the data. The tissue conditioner (TC) mixed with antibiotic and curcumin separately, showed a zone of inhibition that was greater than the control used. This showed that there was elution from the tissue conditioner mixed with the chosen drugs into artificial saliva The materials mixed in 1:1 ratio of metronidazole and different ratios of curcumin each with TC showed spreadability and viscosity similar to that of control. Differential Scanning Calorimetry showed no interaction between the drugs and tissue conditioner. Tissue conditioner can be used as an effective medium to carry antibiotics or curcumin with positive elution into artificial saliva. Treatment strategies could involve targeted pharmaceutical approach with drugs delivered locally.