Kinetics of drug release from a biodegradable local drug delivery system and its effect on Porphyromonas gingivalis isolates: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND: Conventional anti-microbial therapy largely consisted of systemic administration of various drugs effective against periodontal pathogens, but fraught with several problems. Based on the concept of local drug delivery a bioresorbable device made of pure fibrillar collagen has been developed. The aim of this study was to study the release of Tetracycline from this collagen fiber (Type I collagen) impregnated with Tetracycline and its antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Porphyromonas gingivalis was isolated from plaque samples of chronic periodontitis patients by using a CO(2) incubator. DNA isolation was done followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to confirm the presence of bacteria. The release pattern of Tetracycline was assessed for a period of 10 days in water (group I) and Serum inoculated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (group II). RESULTS: A significant presence of Tetracycline on all days in Group I and group II and the zone of inhibition was also present in both groups with a steady decline from day 1 to day 10. CONCLUSION: Since the results were well within the therapeutic concentration of drug required to inhibit the growth of gram –ve bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis), this bioresorbable Tetracycline fiber has the potential for clinical application.