Research Projects

The WHO Global Goals of Oral Hygiene 2020 aim to develop multidisciplinary approaches to reduce oral diseases like periodontitis, which are common chronic diseases and significant public health issues. Conventional dentistry tools like curettage, root planning, scaling, and antibiotic therapy have shown limited clinical success and are associated with poor patient compliance, high costs, and antibiotic resistance. Post-Covid-19, there is an unmet need for diversified periodonto-therapy, which could address manifestations like bacterial infection, biofilm formation, inflammation, and dental bone loss through codelivery of suitable drug agents using vehicular systems. The current project aims to develop and optimize loco-regionally targeted electro spun nanofibers tuned to co-deliver antibiotic (minocycline) and biofilm disruptor (oleic acid) for periodonto-therapy. Standard protocols with adequate optimization will be employed, and the shelf life of the product will be determined using the ICH Q 1 (R2) guideline. The nanofiber systems will leverage indigenously available biodegradable polymers and nanotechnologies like electrospinning, yielding multi agent loaded nanofibers that can be surface modified for improved retention and custom filling into the periodontal pockets. The proposed nanosystem offers a low dose, multi component locally applicable sustained release formulation for easy use and positive therapeutic outcomes, obviating the need for high doses of systemic antibiotics and curtailing antibiotic resistance. Locoregional application of the nano system will not only treat preventable and curable diseases like periodontal afflictions but also mitigate severe CVS afflictions, circumventing systemic side effects and reducing overall therapy costs.