DEVELOPMENT OF A DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERIODONTAL-DISEASE BASED ON BIOERODIBLE POLY(ORTHO ESTERS)

Poly(ortho esters) prepared by the condensation of 1,2,6-hexanetriol and an alkyl orthoacetate are viscous, semisolid materials at room temperature that can be injected using a blunt needle. When tetracycline was incorporated into these materials, complete release occurred within about 24 hours, but when small amounts of Mg(OH)(2) were incorporated into the polymer release could be extended to many weeks, and a loading of 0.5 wt% resulted in sustained release of about 10 days. When adhesion was tested using bovine teeth, cohesive failure of the pure polymer occurred at a force of about 392 mN cm(-2) and cohesive failure of a polymer incorporating 10 wt% tetracycline and 1 wt% (Mg(OH)(2) occurred at about 118 mN cm(-2). The combination of injectability, dentoadhesiveness and ability to control accurately the release of incorporated antibiotics makes these materials promising candidates for bioerodible delivery systems useful in the treatment of periodontitis. Toxicological studies are currently in progress.