Limitations in the Treatment of Periodontitis Addressed by Interpenetrating SilMA/MA-CMCS Hydrogel for Drug-Free Antibacterial Activity and Bone Regeneration

Microorganisms in dental plaque contribute to local and systemic diseases and are initiating factors for periodontitis. Conventional periodontitis treatment may fail to cope with the complexity of periodontal anatomy or drug resistance. This study involved the grafting of methacrylate groups onto SF and CMCS through chemical modification, followed by the blending of the derived SilMA and MA-CMCS. Focus was placed on determining their optimal ratio for the preparation of an interpenetrating double-network hydrogel, whose antibacterial and osteogenic activities were then assessed in vitro and in vivo. The optimal ratio of chemically modified photocurable SilMA and MA-CMCS needed to prepare SilMA/MA-CMCS interpenetrating double-network hydrogels was investigated in the current work, and antibacterial and bone regeneration activities were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The optimal injectable SilMA/MA-CMCS hydrogel formulation presents a solution for improving periodontitis treatment, offering a safe and effective approach for minimally invasive therapy without the risk of drug resistance.