In Vitro Development of a New Sponge-Based Delivery System for Intracanal Antimicrobial Administration in Endodontic Treatment.

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro performance of collagen-based sponges as a drug delivery system for intracanal antimicrobial administration. Four groups of loaded collagen-based sponges (A, 0.3% w/v amoxicillin trihydrate: potassium clavulanate (4:1); B, 0.03% w/v chlorhexidine gluconate [CHX]; C, 0.3% w/v amoxicillin trihydrate: potassium clavulanate (4:1) and 0.03% w/v CHX; D, 1% w/v amoxicillin trihydrate: potassium clavulanate (4:1) and 0.03% w/v CHX) were designed. Release kinetics were tested in vitro on cultures in Petri dishes, and the effect on bacterial biofilms was studied ex vivo on 114 extracted human single-rooted teeth. Biofilm formation was tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Collagen sponges containing amoxicillin and chlorhexidine showed a time-sustained antimicrobial effect in vitro and were also able to destroy mature biofilms ex vivo. This datum was validated by means of SEM-based study of E. faecalis and S. aureus biofilms.

Fast and controlled release of triamcinolone acetonide from extrusion-spheronization pellets based on mixtures of native starch with dextrin or waxy maize starch.

Pellets composed chiefly of inexpensive starches allow modulation of the rate of release of the poorly soluble drug triamcinolone acetonide in media of pH 1.2-6.8. Wheat- or maize-starch-based pellets with 20% of white dextrin release the drug in vitro almost completely within 20 min, while maize-starch-based pellets with 5-35% of waxy maize starch sustain gradual release over periods of 9-12 hr or longer when prepared using appropriate amounts of granulation fluid.