This study was aimed at engineering photocrosslinkable azithromycin (AZ)-laden gelatin methacryloyl fibers via electrospinning to serve as a localized and biodegradable drug delivery system for endodontic infection control. AZ at three distinct amounts was mixed with solubilized gelatin methacryloyl and the photoinitiator to obtain the following fibers: GelMA+5%AZ, GelMA+10%AZ, and GelMA+15%AZ. Fiber morphology, diameter, AZ incorporation, mechanical properties, degradation profile, and antimicrobial action against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Actinomyces naeslundii were also studied. In vitro compatibility with human-derived dental pulp stem cells and inflammatory response in vivo using a subcutaneous rat model were also determined. A bead-free fibrous microstructure with interconnected pores was observed for all groups. GelMA and GelMA+10%AZ had the highest fiber diameter means. The tensile strength of the GelMA-based fibers was reduced upon AZ addition. A similar pattern was observed for the degradation profile in vitro. GelMA+15%AZ fibers led to the highest bacterial inhibition. The presence of AZ, regardless of the concentration, did not pose significant toxicity. In vivo findings indicated higher blood vessel formation, mild inflammation, and mature and thick well-oriented collagen fibers interweaving with the engineered fibers. Altogether, AZ-laden photocrosslinkable GelMA fibers had adequate mechanical and degradation properties, with 15%AZ displaying significant antimicrobial activity without compromising biocompatibility.

The objective of this research was to create and appraise biodegradable polymer-based nanofibers containing distinct concentrations of calcium trimetaphosphate (Ca-TMP) for periodontal tissue engineering. Poly(ester urea) (PEU) (5% w/v) solutions containing Ca-TMP (15%, 30%, 45% w/w) were electrospun into fibrous scaffolds. The fibers were evaluated using SEM, EDS, TGA, FTIR, XRD, and mechanical tests. Degradation rate, swelling ratio, and calcium release were also evaluated. Cell/Ca-TMP and cell/scaffold interaction were assessed using stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) for cell viability, adhesion, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests were used (α = 0.05). The PEU and PEU/Ca-TMP-based membranes presented fiber diameters at 469 nm and 414–672 nm, respectively. Chemical characterization attested to the Ca-TMP incorporation into the fibers. Adding Ca-TMP led to higher degradation stability and lower dimensional variation than the pure PEU fibers; however, similar mechanical characteristics were observed. Minimal calcium was released after 21 days of incubation in a lipase-enriched solution. Ca-TMP extracts enhanced cell viability and ALP activity, although no differences were found between the scaffold groups. Overall, Ca-TMP was effectively incorporated into the PEU fibers without compromising the morphological properties but did not promote significant cell function.