Polymer-Based Carriers in Dental Local Healing-Review and Future Challenges

Abstract

Polymers in drug formulation technology and the engineering of biomaterials for the treatment of oral diseases constitute a group of excipients that often possess additional properties in addition to their primary function, i.e., biological activity, sensitivity to stimuli, mucoadhesive properties, improved penetration of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) across biological barriers, and effects on wound healing or gingival and bone tissue regeneration. Through the use of multifunctional polymers, it has become possible to design carriers and materials tailored to the specific conditions and site of application, to deliver the active substance directly to the affected tissue, including intra-periodontal pocket delivery, and to release the active substance in a timed manner, allowing for the improvement of the form of application and further development of therapeutic strategies. The scope of this review is polymeric drug carriers and materials developed from selected multifunctional groups of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers for topical therapeutic applications. Moreover, the characteristics of the topical application and the needs for the properties of carriers for topical administration of an active substance in the treatment of oral diseases are presented to more understand the difficulties associated with the design of optimal active substance carriers and materials for the treatment of lesions located in the oral cavity.

Keywords: clinical application; multifunctional polymer; natural and synthetic polymers; polymer drug carrier; polymer material.

Figure 1

Molecular structure of the chitosan repeated monomer unit (a), chitosan derivatives: trimethyl chitosan (b), N-trimethyl chitosan-g-palmitic acid (c) [52].

Figure 2

Single-use dental device with a working tip of rapidly degradable chitosan attached to a medical-grade stainless steel stem covered with a white soft polypropylene sleeve. A device used with an oscillating dental tip (average 600–1000 rpm) for cleaning up to four dental implants with peri-implant mucositis in the patient.

Figure 3

Molecular structure of HA molecule [79].

Figure 4

Molecular structure of gellan gum (a) and pectin (b) [104].

Figure 5

Molecular structure of collagen (a), gelatin (b) [113].

Figure 6

Molecular structure of cellulose ether [133].

Figure 7

Molecular structure of PVA [154].

Figure 8

Molecular structure of PLGA [160]. x: units of lactic acid, y: units of glycolic acid.

Figure 9

Molecular structure of PCL [160].

Figure 10

Poloxamer molecular structure [174]. x—hydrophilic polyethylene glycol block, y—hydrophobic block of polypropylene glycol.