Advanced Drug Delivery Platforms for the Treatment of Oral Pathogens

Factors associated with tooth loss in patients with stages 3 and 4 periodontitis: a short-term retrospective evaluation of patients

This retrospective study analyzed factors associated with tooth loss in patients with stages 3 and 4 periodontitis undergoing non-surgical periodontal therapy. Data from 84 patients treated at Griffith University Periodontal Clinic (2019-2022) were examined, focusing on patient factors such as smoking status, osteoporosis, and age, alongside tooth loss variables. The logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with stage 4 periodontitis had a significantly higher likelihood of tooth loss compared to those with stage 3 (odds ratio [OR] 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-4.84). Smoking was also identified as a significant risk factor, with smokers showing an OR of 1.69 (95% CI 1.4-3.9) for tooth loss. While no statistically significant relationships were observed for other variables (p > 0.05), patients under 40 years and over 71 years with stage 4 periodontitis exhibited notable tooth loss outcomes (p = 0.003 and p = 0.034, respectively). These findings emphasize the importance of integrating smoking cessation programs into periodontal care and tailoring treatment strategies for high-risk groups. Further longitudinal studies with comprehensive data collection are recommended to enhance the understanding of tooth loss predictors in advanced periodontitis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04217-5.

Exploring the Antitumor Efficacy of PEGylated Liposomes Loaded with Licorice Extract for Cancer Therapy

BACKGROUND

Glycyrrhizic Acid (GA), a compound derived from licorice, has exhibited promising anticancer properties against several cancer types, including Prostate Cancer (PCa) and Gastric Cancer (GCa).

OBJECTIVE

This study has introduced a novel approach involving the encapsulation of GA and Licorice extract (Lic) into Polyethylene Glycol Liposomes (PEG-Lip) and assessed their efficacy against AGS (human gastric cancer) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer) cells, marking the first report of this endeavor.

METHODS

We synthesized GA-loaded PEG-Lip (GA PEG-Lip) and Lic-loaded PEG-Lip (Lic PEG-Lip) through the reverse-phase evaporation method.

RESULTS

Characterization of these liposomal formulations revealed their size, drug encapsulation, and loading efficiencies to be 110 ± 2.05 nm, 117 ± 1.24 nm; 61 ± 0.81%, 34 ± 0.47%; and 8 ± 0.41% and 4.6 ± 0.21%, respectively. Importantly, the process has retained the chemical structure of both GA and Lic. Furthermore, GA and Lic have been released from the PEG-Lip formulations in a controlled manner. In our experiments, both nanoformulations exhibited enhanced cytotoxic effects against AGS and PC-3 cells. Notably, GA PEG-Lip outperformed Lic PEG-Lip, reducing the viability of PC-3 and AGS cells by 12.5% and 15.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These results have been corroborated by apoptosis assays, which have demonstrated GA PEG-Lip and Lic PEG-Lip to induce stronger apoptotic effects compared to free GA and Lic on both PC-3 and AGS cells. This study has underscored the potential of encapsulating GA and Lic in PEG-Lip as a promising strategy to augment their anticancer efficacy against prostate and gastric cancers.

Unraveling Nanomaterials in Biomimetic Mineralization of Dental Hard Tissue: Focusing on Advantages, Mechanisms, and Prospects

The demineralization of dental hard tissue imposes considerable health and economic burdens worldwide, but an optimal method that can repair both the chemical composition and complex structures has not been developed. The continuous development of nanotechnology has created new opportunities for the regeneration and repair of dental hard tissue. Increasingly studies have reported that nanomaterials (NMs) can induce and regulate the biomimetic mineralization of dental hard tissue, but few studies have examined how they are involved in the different stages, let alone the relevant mechanisms of action. Besides their nanoscale dimensions and excellent designability, NMs play a corresponding role in the function of the raw materials for mineralization, mineralized microenvironment, mineralization guidance, and the function of mineralized products. This review comprehensively summarizes the advantages of NMs and examines the specific mineralization mechanisms. Design strategies to promote regeneration and repair are summarized according to the application purpose of NMs in the oral cavity, and limitations and development directions in dental hard tissue remineralization are proposed. This review can provide a theoretical basis to understand the interaction between NMs and the remineralization of dental hard tissue, thereby optimizing design strategy, rational development, and clinical application of NMs in the field of remineralization.

Stimuli-Responsive Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Oral Diseases

Oral diseases encompassing conditions such as oral cancer, periodontitis, and endodontic infections pose significant challenges due to the oral cavity's susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria and infectious agents. Saliva, a key component of the oral environment, can compromise drug efficacy during oral disease treatment by diluting drug formulations and reducing drug-site interactions. Thus, it is imperative to develop effective drug delivery methods. Stimuli-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels offer a promising solution by adapting to changes in environmental conditions during disease states, thereby enabling targeted drug delivery. These smart drug delivery systems have the potential to enhance drug efficacy, minimize adverse reactions, reduce administration frequency, and improve patient compliance, thus facilitating a faster recovery. This review explores various types of stimuli-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels tailored for smart drug delivery, with a specific focus on their applications in managing oral diseases.

Microfluidics for personalized drug delivery

This review highlights the transformative impact of microfluidic technology on personalized drug delivery. Microfluidics addresses issues in traditional drug synthesis, providing precise control and scalability in nanoparticle fabrication, and microfluidic platforms show high potential for versatility, offering patient-specific dosing and real-time monitoring capabilities, all integrated into wearable technology. Covalent conjugation of antibodies to nanoparticles improves bioactivity, driving innovations in drug targeting. The integration of microfluidics with sensor technologies and artificial intelligence facilitates real-time feedback and autonomous adaptation in drug delivery systems. Key challenges, such as droplet polydispersity and fluidic handling, along with future directions focusing on scalability and reliability, are essential considerations in advancing microfluidics for personalized drug delivery.

Bioresponsive drug delivery systems

In this review, we highlight the potential of stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) to revolutionize healthcare. Through examining pH, temperature, enzyme, and redox responsiveness, the presented case studies highlight the precision and enhanced therapeutic outcomes achievable with these innovative systems. Challenges, such as complex design and bio-based material optimization, underscore the complete journey from bench to bedside. Clinical strides in magnetically and temperature-responsive systems hint at a promising future for healthcare. However, overcoming issues of stability, durability, penetration depth, sensitivity, and active targeting is crucial. The future envisions theranostic systems, amalgamating targeted therapy and diagnosis, for personalized healthcare. Bio-based materials emerge as pivotal, offering a nuanced approach to complex diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, reshaping the healthcare landscape.

Resorbable GBR Scaffolds in Oral and Maxillofacial Tissue Engineering: Design, Fabrication, and Applications

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a promising technique in bone tissue engineering that aims to replace lost or injured bone using resorbable scaffolds. The promotion of osteoblast adhesion, migration, and proliferation is greatly aided by GBR materials, and surface changes are critical in imitating the natural bone structure to improve cellular responses. Moreover, the interactions between bioresponsive scaffolds, growth factors (GFs), immune cells, and stromal progenitor cells are essential in promoting bone regeneration. This literature review comprehensively discusses various aspects of resorbable scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, encompassing scaffold design, materials, fabrication techniques, and advanced manufacturing methods, including three-dimensional printing. In addition, this review explores surface modifications to replicate native bone structures and their impact on cellular responses. Moreover, the mechanisms of bone regeneration are described, providing information on how immune cells, GFs, and bioresponsive scaffolds orchestrate tissue healing. Practical applications in clinical settings are presented to underscore the importance of these principles in promoting tissue integration, healing, and regeneration. Furthermore, this literature review delves into emerging areas of metamaterials and artificial intelligence applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. These interdisciplinary approaches hold immense promise for furthering bone tissue engineering and improving therapeutic outcomes, leading to enhanced patient well-being. The potential of combining material science, advanced manufacturing, and cellular biology is showcased as a pathway to advance bone tissue engineering, addressing a variety of clinical needs and challenges. By providing this comprehensive narrative, a detailed, up-to-date account of resorbable scaffolds' role in bone tissue engineering and their transformative potential is offered.

Unraveling the New Perspectives on Antimicrobial Hydrogels: State-of-the-Art and Translational Applications

The growing impact of infections and the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance represent a public health concern worldwide. The exponential development in the field of biomaterials and its multiple applications can offer a solution to the problems that derive from these situations. In this sense, antimicrobial hydrogels represent a promising opportunity with multiple translational expectations in the medical management of infectious diseases due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties as well as for drug delivery in specific areas. Hydrogels are three-dimensional cross-linked networks of hydrophilic polymers that can absorb and retain large amounts of water or biological fluids. Moreover, antimicrobial hydrogels (AMH) present good biocompatibility, low toxicity, availability, viscoelasticity, biodegradability, and antimicrobial properties. In the present review, we collect and discuss the most promising strategies in the development of AMH, which are divided into hydrogels with inherent antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial agent-loaded hydrogels based on their composition. Then, we present an overview of the main translational applications: wound healing, tissue engineering and regeneration, drug delivery systems, contact lenses, 3D printing, biosensing, and water purification.