novel hydrogel with carrageenan, fucoidan and titanium oxide nanoparticles for periodontal drug delivery

Background: nonsurgical periodontal therapy combined with antimicrobial agents is crucial for effective periodontal care. as local drug delivery systems, hydrogels offer significant advantages for managing periodontal disease. carrageenan, extracted from red seaweeds, offers anti-inflammatory benefits, while fucoidan provides antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral effects. titanium oxide nanoparticles enhance antimicrobial activity, synergizing with these agents.methods: this study was an experimental in-vitro investigation. carrageenan powder (0.8 g) and fucoidan powder (0.8 g) were dissolved in 100 ml deionized water and boiled at 65 °c for four hours. the resulting supernatant was discarded, and the pellet was double-filtered. this process was repeated twice to obtain the carrageenan and fucoidan extract. titanium oxide nanoparticles (0.1 g) and carbopol (50 g) were added to the obtained extract. the prepared product was stored in graded tubes at a cool temperature. the samples underwent degradation analysis, swelling test, contact angle analysis, and anti-inflammatory analysis.results: the degradation test, conducted on three samples on days 4, 7, and 14, respectively, resulted in complete degradation by day 6. the swelling index demonstrated a significant weight decrease from the first hour to the 24th hour, measuring 0.385 g and 0.330 g, respectively. the contact angles on the left and right sides were 54.07° and 55.2°, respectively, indicating their hydrophilic nature. anti-inflammatory analysis at 50 μl revealed a standard value of 84 and a hydrogel value of 80.conclusion: the formulated hydrogel demonstrated complete degradation by day six, supporting its use in controlled drug delivery. the swelling index confirmed its moisture-retention capacity, while the hydrophilic contact angles highlighted its adhesion with periodontal tissues. the anti-inflammatory efficacy comparable to the standard demonstrated its potential as an effective therapeutic agent, making it a promising addition to nonsurgical periodontal treatment.