Effect of Bacterial Nanocellulose with Chemisorbed Antiseptics on Alveolar Bone Repair in Rats Undergoing Bisphosphonate Therapy.

: This work investigated the effect of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) alone or with chemisorbed chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine on post-tooth extraction repair in rats undergoing bisphosphonate therapy. : Forty Wistar rats were treated with zoledronic acid, subjected to tooth extractions and allocated into groups according to the material inserted in the post-extraction socket: (1) BNC ( = 10); (2) BNC/Iodine ( = 10); (3) BNC/Chlorhex ( = 10); (4) Control ( = 10). Maxillae were dissected and macro- and microscopically analyzed. : Oral lesion frequency on macroscopic examination did not differ between the groups, whereas it was larger in the BNC/Iodine group compared to the BNC/Chlorhex and Control. BNC/Chlorhex had significantly more connective tissue than did BNC but did not differ from the BNC/Iodine and Control. Epithelium, vital bone, non-vital bone, tooth fragment and inflammatory infiltrate did not significantly differ between the groups. BNC/Iodine showed greater CD31 immunostaining compared to BNC and the Control. Myeloperoxidase staining did not differ between the groups, and scanning electron microscopy analysis showed similar characteristics in all groups. : BNC with chemisorbed povidone-iodine is associated with increased vascularization in post-extraction wounds of rats undergoing bisphosphonate therapy, whereas BNC with chemisorbed chlorhexidine improves connective tissue formation. BNC works as an effective carrier for the antiseptics tested.