Ferreira Sónia, Grenho Liliana, Fernandes Maria H, Lima Sofia A Costa
Department of Dental Sciences, IUCS-CESPU: University Institute of Health Sciences-Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal.
Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde-Rede de Química e Tecnologia (LAQV, REQUIMTE), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Gels. 2025 Apr 22;11(5):308. doi: 10.3390/gels11050308.
Intracanal reinfections continue to pose a major challenge in endodontic treatment. Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising antimicrobial strategy. Regarding this, curcumin (CUR), a natural photosensitizer, shows potential in this context, but its application is hampered by poor solubility and rapid degradation. This study aimed to develop and characterize a CUR-loaded nanoparticle-enriched hydrogel to enhance its stability, sustain its release, and evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy upon photoactivation (PhAc). Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into a hydrogel matrix, followed by characterization using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, in vitro CUR release studies, and rheological analysis. Antibiofilm activity against was assessed under both photoactivated and non-photoactivated conditions. Cytocompatibility was analyzed through fibroblast viability assays and fluorescence staining. The CUR-containing hydrogel demonstrated a sustained release profile extending beyond 72 h. Rheological studies confirmed its shear-thinning behavior, ensuring injectability even after post-photoactivation. Antibiofilm assays revealed a significant reduction in biofilms, with PhAc formulations exhibiting markedly enhanced antibacterial efficacy compared to their non-PhAc counterparts. Cytocompatibility assays confirmed that all formulations, including those subjected to PDT, preserved fibroblast viability, indicating biocompatibility suitable for clinical use. In sum, the CUR-containing hydrogel exhibits properties that support its potential as an effective intracanal therapeutic, combining antimicrobial and photodynamic effects to help prevent reinfections in endodontic treatments.
根管内再感染仍然是牙髓治疗中的一项重大挑战。光动力疗法已成为一种有前景的抗菌策略。鉴于此，天然光敏剂姜黄素（CUR）在这方面显示出潜力，但其应用受到溶解度差和快速降解的阻碍。本研究旨在开发并表征一种富含负载姜黄素纳米颗粒的水凝胶，以提高其稳定性、维持其释放，并评估其光激活（PhAc）后的抗菌效果。合成负载姜黄素的纳米颗粒并将其掺入水凝胶基质中，随后使用扫描电子显微镜、傅里叶变换红外光谱、体外姜黄素释放研究和流变学分析进行表征。在光激活和非光激活条件下评估对……的抗生物膜活性。通过成纤维细胞活力测定和荧光染色分析细胞相容性。含姜黄素的水凝胶显示出超过72小时的持续释放曲线。流变学研究证实了其剪切变稀行为，确保即使在光激活后仍具有可注射性。抗生物膜试验显示……生物膜显著减少，与非光激活配方相比，光激活配方表现出明显增强的抗菌效果。细胞相容性试验证实，所有配方，包括接受光动力疗法的配方，均保持成纤维细胞活力，表明其生物相容性适合临床使用。总之，含姜黄素的水凝胶具有支持其作为有效根管内治疗剂的潜力的特性，结合抗菌和光动力效应，有助于预防牙髓治疗中的再感染。
