Oral biofilms, including pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, are involved in the initiation and progression of various periodontal diseases. However, the treatment of these diseases is hindered by the limited efficacy of many antimicrobial materials in removing biofilms under the harsh conditions of the oral cavity. Our objective is to develop a gel-type antimicrobial agent with optimal physicochemical properties, strong tissue adhesion, prolonged antimicrobial activity, and biocompatibility to serve as an adjunctive treatment for periodontal diseases. Phenylboronic acid-conjugated alginate (Alg-PBA) was synthesized using a carbodiimide coupling agent. Alg-PBA was then combined with tannic acid (TA) to create an Alg-PBA/TA hydrogel. The composition of the hydrogel was optimized to enhance its mechanical strength and tissue adhesiveness. Additionally, the hydrogel's self-healing ability, erosion and release profile, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis were thoroughly characterized. The Alg-PBA/TA hydrogels, with a final concentration of 5 wt% TA, exhibited both mechanical properties comparable to conventional Minocycline gel and strong tissue adhesiveness. In contrast, the Minocycline gel demonstrated negligible tissue adhesion. The Alg-PBA/TA hydrogel also retained its rheological properties under repeated 5 kPa stress owing to its self-healing capability, whereas the Minocycline gel showed irreversible changes in rheology after just one stress cycle. Additionally, Alg-PBA/TA hydrogels displayed a sustained erosion and TA release profile with minimal impact on the surrounding pH. Additionally, the hydrogels exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis, effectively eliminating its biofilm without compromising the viability of MG-63 cells. The Alg-PBA/TA hydrogel demonstrates an optimal combination of mechanical strength, self-healing ability, tissue adhesiveness, excellent biocompatibility, and sustained antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis. These attributes make it superior to conventional Minocycline gel. Thus, the Alg-PBA/TA hydrogel is a promising antiseptic candidate for adjunctive treatment of various periodontal diseases.

Lee SW, et al. Ann Dermatol. 2011 Dec;23(Suppl 3):S329-S332. http://dx.doi.org/10.5021/ad.2011.23.S3.S329

Macrophages play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sepsis, serving as central regulators of both disease onset and progression. Among the therapeutic agents investigated to modulate macrophage-driven inflammation, compounds extracted from the roots of Panax ginseng have been distinguished for their potent anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, attention has shifted toward ginseng-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (GDEs) because of their ability to encapsulate diverse bioactive compounds with high stability and biocompatibility. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of GDEs against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock, with a particular focus on macrophage-mediated mechanisms. GDEs isolated from Korean Panax ginseng exhibited a spherical morphology, high stability, and effective encapsulation of bioactive ginsenosides, including Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3. GDEs significantly attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages by reducing toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) glycosylation, thereby inhibiting LPS binding. This suppression of TLR4 glycosylation led to decreased production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α), as well as inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, GDE treatment markedly improved survival and alleviated lung, liver, and spleen damage in an LPS-induced sepsis mouse model. In summary, these findings suggest that GDEs represent a promising nanomedicine strategy for sepsis prevention, offering targeted modulation of macrophage activity without apparent adverse effects.

Anoctamin1 (ANO1), a calcium activated chloride channel, is known to play a critical role in salivary secretion. In the salivary gland, ANO1 is expressed exclusively in the acinar cells, with no expression in the ductal cells. However, the mechanisms that determine this distinctive cell type-dependent expression pattern of ANO1 remain unknown. In this study, we discovered that the cell-dependent expression of ANO1 during salivary gland organogenesis is regulated by DNA methylation of ANO1 CpG islands. ANO1 CpG islands in e12 embryonic submandibular glands (eSMG) are highly methylated, but those in e14 eSMG or adult SMG are significantly unmethylated. The differential expression pattern of ANO1 in duct and acini is defined at e14. Artificial demethylation by treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), induced the expression of ANO1 in both the ductal cell line Human Submandibular Gland (HSG) and in the duct cells of adult mouse SMG. During the trans-differentiation in Matrigel of duct-origin HSG cells into acinar-like phenotype, significant demethylation of ANO1 CpG islands is observed. This may be due to the reduced expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 3a and 3b. These results suggest that the differential expression of ANO1 in salivary glands during organogenesis and differentiation is mainly regulated by epigenetic demethylation of the ANO1 gene.

In dentistry, interest in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) over traditional denture fabrication systems is increasing. However, few studies have compared the physiochemical and biological properties of different fabrication methods in regards to Candida albicans. C. albicans is the most common oral fungal pathogen, often related to dentures and elderly patients. Although various factors have been reported to influence C. albicans proliferation, conclusive evidence is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the physicochemical properties of different denture materials in terms of surface roughness and C. albicans adhesion on the basis of polymerization methods and 3D print orientation. Four types of resin disks were prepared: autopolymerization, heat-activated polymerization, milling, and 3D printing. The surface roughness and water contact angle were measured via a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and the sessile drop method. After C. albicans inoculation, microbial adhesion was measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM), a crystal violet assay, and an alcian blue assay. To further investigate the relationship between surface roughness and microbial adhesion, 3D-printed resin was fabricated at different build orientations. The resins were printed at 0, 45, and 90-degrees to modulate different surface roughness and simulate commonly used clinical settings. The same experimental set was used. The cell wall thickness of each group was measured via CLSM. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests were performed. The 3D-printed group presented the greatest adhesion with the highest roughness parameters (Ra, Rdq). The milled group presented the lowest adhesion with the lowest surface roughness values. (p < 0.05) Among the 3D-printed samples with different build orientations, the 0-degree presented the lowest surface roughness and the lowest microbial adhesion. (p < 0.05) Microbial adhesion was less related to average roughness and more related to microroughness. The findings were further confirmed with SEM images with prominent grooves and layer lines with speckled patterns on 45 and 90-degree. The cell wall thickness showed no difference between the groups. (p > 0.05). Microbial adhesion is significantly affected by fabrication methods and build orientation. Milled and 0-degree 3D printed resins provide improved options with the potential to minimize Candida albicans adhesion with the lowest surface roughness. Due to their high surface roughness and microbial adhesion, 3D-printed resins with different printing orientations require meticulous polishing and regular cleansing. Despite the limitation of in vitro study, this study aims to provide a deeper understanding of surface morphology and microbial adhesion and provide clinical insights that milled and 0-degree printed resin are more favorable in minimizing C. albicans adhesion.