Research

Nanomedicines with antibiotics and probiotics for local treatment of periodontal disease

Code:

J1-9194

Range:

01. July 2018 - 30. June 2022

Range:

1,34 FTE

Leader:

Julijana Kristl

Field:

1-09 Natural sciences and Mathematics - Pharmacy

Abstract:

Periodontal disease is perhaps the most common human afflictions, and through its local and systemic effects, it can considerably deteriorate the overall quality of person’s life. Periodontal disease is a biofilm-induced chronic inflammation of the periodontium, where two factors are specifically linked with its pathogenesis: (i) a shift in the oral microbiota (i.e., dysbiosis) that results in a reduction in the beneficial symbionts and/or an increase in the periodontal pathogens; and (ii) a destructive host immune response that leads to degradation of the periodontium. All of the treatment approaches available today only result in temporary improvement of the disease status, or only in a temporary ‘cure’, as after treatment, periodontopathogens frequently recolonise the oral niches, including the periodontal pockets, and thus trigger relapse of the disease. Here, our interdisciplinary consortium has been put together to propose an innovative concept of periodontal disease treatment, with the involvement of experts from the fields of pharmaceutical nanotechnology (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana), microbiology (Institut ‘Jozef Stefan’) and dental medicine (University Medical Centre Ljubljana). Our access to current cutting-edge research equipment provides us with a good starting point for the success of the proposed Project. Our goal is to develop and characterise new nanomedicines for comprehensive two-stage local therapy. For the first stage of therapy, nanofiber-based medicine with dual activity will be developed (i.e., antibiotic and immunomodulatory) to simultaneously eradicate periodontopathogens and regulate the host immune response. Thus, oral autochthonous bacteria as probiotic will be incorporated into nanofiber film that will after application colonised periodontal pockets in a controlled manner in the second stage of therapy.