Minocycline hydrochloride loaded mPEG-PCLA membranes: Preparation and in vitro evaluation for periodontitis therapy

This study was aimed at alleviating shortcomings in the treatment of periodontitis by preparation of a biopolymer membrane loaded with minocycline hydrochloride (MH) inserted into periodontal pockets to treat infections. Monomethoxy-poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone-co-L-lactide) (mPEG-PCLA) is a biocompatible and biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer. It, therefore, has attracted considerable attention in drug delivery systems and periodontal treatment. We chose it as a membrane material for MH-drug loading. The MH-loaded membranes were prepared by the solvent casting technique with the content of 5, 8 and 10 wt.%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) revealed no interaction between MH and polymer. The drug-loaded membrane surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro release studies showed that the initial drug release exceeded 40% within 24 h, followed by a sustained release for up to 2 weeks, which would enable the therapeutic level to maintain over a longer time. The antibacterial activity studies in vitro demonstrated a positive effect on the periodontal pathogen. MH drug-loaded membranes have no adverse effect on the growth of periodontal ligament fibroblasts in the MTT test. The study suggests that mPEG-PCLA membranes containing MH are a potential antibacterial drug delivery system for local treatment of periodontitis.