Oxygen-Releasing Hyaluronic Acid-Based Dispersion with Controlled Oxygen Delivery for Enhanced Periodontal Tissue Engineering

Periodontitis is a chronic biofilm-associated inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting tissues that causes tooth loss. It is strongly associated with anaerobic bacterial colonization and represents a substantial global health burden. Due to a local hypoxic environment, tissue regeneration is impaired. Oxygen therapy has shown promising results as a potential treatment of periodontitis, but so far, local oxygen delivery remains a key technical challenge. An oxygen (O-2)-releasing hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dispersion with a controlled oxygen delivery was developed. Cell viability of primary human fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and HUVECs was demonstrated, and biocompatibility was tested using a chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM assay). Suppression of anaerobic growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis was shown using the broth microdilution assay. In vitro assays showed that the O-2-releasing HA was not cytotoxic towards human primary fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and HUVECs. In vivo, angiogenesis was enhanced in a CAM assay, although not to a statistically significant degree. Growth of P. gingivalis was inhibited by CaO2 concentrations higher than 256 mg/L. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the biocompatibility and selective antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis for the developed O-2-releasing HA-based dispersion and the potential of O-2-releasing biomaterials for periodontal tissue regeneration.

Automated summary

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to tooth loss and significantly impacts global health. A hyaluronic acid-based dispersion with controlled oxygen delivery shows potential as a treatment for periodontitis. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate the biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis, and angiogenesis enhancement of the developed oxygen-releasing dispersion. This suggests the potential of oxygen-releasing biomaterials for periodontal tissue regeneration.