Eudragit-maleimide as total denture base material: Proof of concept for a promising mucoadhesive strategy

To develop an Eudragit S100-2(aminoethyl) maleimide (ES100-AEMal) conjugate as total denture base material candidate and to prove mucoadhesive properties. 2-(N-aminoethyl) maleimide (AEMal) was attached to Eudragit S100 (ES100) backbone via amide bond formation resulting in ES100-AEMal. After characterization of the product via nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, and quantification of attached maleimide groups by a quantification assay kit, safety was assessed following the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay towards Caco-2 cells and fibroblasts. In addition, membrane damage was tested using human erythrocytes. Mucoadhesive properties were examined on gingiva in terms of rheometry and detachment time. The successfully synthesized conjugate ES100-AEMal presented a 15 % degree of modification and no toxicity or membrane damage could be observed after one day of incubation. Mucoadhesiveness exhibited 239.91-fold, 490.6-fold and 24.15-fold increase in elastic modulus, viscous modulus, and dynamic viscosity, respectively. Furthermore, detachment time was enhanced 47.5-fold. ES100-AEMal demonstrated enhancement in gingival mucoadhesiveness maintaining biocompatibility.