Sustained-release drug delivery of antimicrobials in controlling of supragingival oral biofilms

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Dental caries, a bacterial biofilm-associated disease, is a prevalent oral health problem. It is a bacterial biofilm-associated disease. Conventional means of combating this disease involves oral hygiene, mostly tooth brushing. Supplementary means of prevention and treatment is often necessary. The use of sustained-release delivery systems, locally applied to the oral cavity appears to be one of the most acceptable avenues for the delivery of antimicrobial agents.

Area covered: The development and current approaches of local sustained delivery technologies applied to the oral cavity for treatment and prevention of dental caries is discussed. The use of polymeric drug delivery systems, varnishes, liposomes and nanoparticles is presented.

Expert opinion: The use of local sustained-release delivery systems applied to the oral cavity has numerous clinical, pharmacological and toxicological advantages over conventional means. Various sustained-release technologies have been suggested over the course of several years. The current research on oral diseases concentrates predominantly on improving the drug delivery. With progress in pharmaceutical technology, sophisticated controlled-release platforms are being developed. The sustained release concept is innovative and there are few products available for the benefit of all populations. Harmonizing academic research with the dental industry will surely expedite the development and commercialization of more products of such pharmacological nature.

KEYWORDS:

• Dental sustained-release delivery system
• dental biofilm
• dental caries
• dental plaque
• antibacterial agents
• oral cavity

Article highlights

• Dental caries are biofilm associated microbial diseases.

• A local sustained release pharmacological approach should be considered as adjunct to the conventional prevention and or treatment of biofilm associated diseases as dental caries

• Local sustained release delivery to the oral cavity has multiple clinical and pharmacological advantages such as; higher substantivity, patient compliance, non-systemic administration.

• The prolong release of antibacterial agents is the most common sustained release pharmaceutical technology for dental caries.

• The classic technology has been sustained-release varnish applied on natural or artificial oral surfaces.

• More advanced technology uses nano technology as a sustained release delivery system.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.