Absorbent points widely used in endodontic
therapy were transformed into bioresorbable
chlorhexidine delivery systems for the treatment of the
periodontal pocket by preventing its recolonization by the subgingival microflora. These paper points (PPs) were first oxidized to promote their resorption, then grafted with β-
cyclodextrin (CD) or
maltodextrin (MD) in order to achieve sustained delivery of
chlorhexidine. We investigated the oxidation step parameters through the time of reaction and the nitric and
phosphoric acid ratios in the oxidizing mixture, and then the
dextrin grafting step parameters through the time and temperature of reaction. A first selection of the appropriate functionalization parameters was undertaken in relation to the degradation profile kinetics of the oxidized (PPO) and oxidized-grafted samples (PPO-CD and PPO-MD). Samples were then loaded with
chlorhexidine digluconate (digCHX), a widely used
antiseptic agent in periodontal
therapy. The release kinetics of digCHX from PPO-CD and PPO-MD samples were compared to PP, PPO and to PerioChip(®) (a commercial digCHX containing gelatine chip) in
phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The cytocompatibility of the oxidized-grafted PP was demonstrated by cell proliferation assays. Finally, the disc diffusion test from digCHX loaded PPO-MD samples immersed in human plasma was developed on pre-inoculated
agar plates with four common periodontal pathogenic strains: Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella melaninogenica, Aggregatibacter actinomycetem comitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. To conclude, the optimized oxidized-
dextrin-grafted PPs responded to our initial specifications in terms of resorption and digCHX release rates and therefore could be adopted as a reliable complementary periodontal
therapy.