Periodontal Chitosan-gels Designed for Improved Local Intra-pocket Drug Delivery

This study proposed a drug delivery system based on a series of formulations with chitosan gels, designed for local, intra-pocket treatment of periodontal disease, containing two drugs (an antibiotic and a chimiotherapeutic-antimicrobian agent: tetracycline hydrochloride (T) and metronidazole benzoate (M), respectively. The formulations varied from the chitosan concentration (3-4%), and the drug loading (1,2 and 3%) point of view. The objectives of the study were to outline the rheological profiles of these formulations and also to evaluate the drug release. All formulations exhibited pseudoplastic and thixotropic behaviour. The drug kinetic profiles and the release mechanisms according to Peppas equation were set. Based on the experimental data, an optimum concentration of chitosan in gel (3%) for useful modulation of drug loading, as a success factor in local therapy of periodontitis, was proposed.