Antimicrobial Activity and Biocompatibility of Antibiotic-Loaded Chitosan Hydrogels as a Potential Scaffold in Regenerative Endodontic Treatment

摘要

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of several antibiotic-loaded hydrogel scaffolds against Enterococcus faecalis, as well as their ability to stimulate proliferation and mineralization of dental pulp stem cells. Methods: Fibrin (Fg) or chitosan-fibrin hydrogels (Ch) were prepared using 12.5 mg/mL fibrinogen and 0.4% (w/v) chitosan. Triple antibiotics, clindamycin-modified triple antibiotic paste, or double antibiotics were loaded in gels (1 mg/mL). Antibacterial effect against E. faecalis biofilm was determined by using colony-forming units (CFUs) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Cell viability and morphology were determined by loading cells into different gels at 7 and 14 days using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 cell viability assay and Live & Dead cell analysis. Mineralization was detected by using alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining activity. Results: Antibiotic-loaded Fg gel and Ch gel alone without antibiotics resulted in a significant reduction in CFUs compared with the positive control (P .05). Conclusions: Double antibiotic-loaded Ch gel appears to enhance the antibacterial properties while maintaining higher cell viability, cell spreading, and mineralization activity, compared with all the other scaffolds investigated.