Versatile hybrid nanoplatforms for treating periodontitis with chemical/photothermal therapy and reactive oxygen species scavenging

Given the limitations of clinical curettage for periodontitis, the thorough removal of dental plaque at deep periodontal pockets and periodontal tissue repair require improvement with the assistance of appropriate medical therapy. Despite the significant developments of various local drug delivery systems (LDDSs) for adjuvant periodontitis therapy, several issues exist, such as the relatively low anti-biofilm effect and the tissue damage caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). To address the issues, we fabricated the versatile nanoplatforms (PPM NPs) via coating polydopamine (PDA) on the surface of monodispersed Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) through the facile yet efficient self-polymerization of dopamine (PP NPs), and then loading minocycline (Mino). Notedly, these integrative nanocomposites-based PB NPs as photothermal agents enhanced the therapeutic effect of plaque biofilms in vitro utilizing the antibacterial photothermal therapy (PTT) under irradiation of NIR laser. Further, the designed nanocomposites efficiently scavenged ROS over oxidative-stress Raw267.4 cells and human periodontal ligament cells, attributing to the enzyme-like activity of PB nanozymes and the reducibility of catechol in PDA. In vitro and in vivo consequences demonstrate the significantly augmented antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects from the live/dead staining of biofilms and western blot results of inflammatory factors compared with free Mino solution in periodontitis. Our fabricated nanoplatforms-based PB NPs conveniently modified with PDA not only significantly improved the antibacterial effect via the combinational therapies but also efficiently scavenged cellular ROS utilizing the enzyme-like activity of nanozymes contributing to the treatment of periodontitis.