PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release

Abstract It is essential to adopt effective therapy strategies for periodontal diseases to achieve optimal results while avoiding adverse effects on the system. This study has developed various PEGylated chitosan-based biodegradable xerogels for localized release of doxycycline hyclate (DH) to treat...

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Main Authors: Farjad Zafar, Muhammad Ali Sheraz, Syed Abid Ali, Maryam Riaz, Sofia Ahmed, Sadia Hafeez Kazi, Safoora Tariq, Zubair Anwar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05894-1
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author Farjad Zafar
Muhammad Ali Sheraz
Syed Abid Ali
Maryam Riaz
Sofia Ahmed
Sadia Hafeez Kazi
Safoora Tariq
Zubair Anwar
author_facet Farjad Zafar
Muhammad Ali Sheraz
Syed Abid Ali
Maryam Riaz
Sofia Ahmed
Sadia Hafeez Kazi
Safoora Tariq
Zubair Anwar
author_sort Farjad Zafar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract It is essential to adopt effective therapy strategies for periodontal diseases to achieve optimal results while avoiding adverse effects on the system. This study has developed various PEGylated chitosan-based biodegradable xerogels for localized release of doxycycline hyclate (DH) to treat periodontal infectious diseases. The xerogels were formulated using the solvent casting method, and the solvent (0.25 M HCl) was slowly evaporated at ambient conditions. Two different molecular weights were employed for chitosan and polyethylene glycol, and twelve combinations, including the placebos and controls, were prepared for the formulation of xerogels. Different physical and chemical characteristics of the prepared DH xerogels were studied, such as drying time and rate, thickness, moisture content, swelling index, organoleptic characteristics, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, drug release and kinetics, and antibacterial activity. The results revealed that the drug transforms from a crystalline to an amorphous state, thus rapidly releasing the drug (> 60% in 30 min. in all xerogels), followed by a sustained release up to 10 h. The release kinetics results revealed that the drug followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. It is concluded that the formulated DH-loaded xerogels showed promising results for use in the periodontal pockets to treat various infectious diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-143eb941dc1745a8ab550fae29f7490c2025-08-20T03:37:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-05894-1PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug releaseFarjad Zafar0Muhammad Ali Sheraz1Syed Abid Ali2Maryam Riaz3Sofia Ahmed4Sadia Hafeez Kazi5Safoora Tariq6Zubair Anwar7Baqai Dental College, Baqai Medical UniversityBaqai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical UniversityThird World Centre for Science and Technology, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of KarachiBaqai Dental College, Baqai Medical UniversityBaqai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical UniversityBaqai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical UniversityBaqai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical UniversityBaqai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical UniversityAbstract It is essential to adopt effective therapy strategies for periodontal diseases to achieve optimal results while avoiding adverse effects on the system. This study has developed various PEGylated chitosan-based biodegradable xerogels for localized release of doxycycline hyclate (DH) to treat periodontal infectious diseases. The xerogels were formulated using the solvent casting method, and the solvent (0.25 M HCl) was slowly evaporated at ambient conditions. Two different molecular weights were employed for chitosan and polyethylene glycol, and twelve combinations, including the placebos and controls, were prepared for the formulation of xerogels. Different physical and chemical characteristics of the prepared DH xerogels were studied, such as drying time and rate, thickness, moisture content, swelling index, organoleptic characteristics, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, drug release and kinetics, and antibacterial activity. The results revealed that the drug transforms from a crystalline to an amorphous state, thus rapidly releasing the drug (> 60% in 30 min. in all xerogels), followed by a sustained release up to 10 h. The release kinetics results revealed that the drug followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. It is concluded that the formulated DH-loaded xerogels showed promising results for use in the periodontal pockets to treat various infectious diseases.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05894-1Doxycycline hyclateXerogelsChitosanPolyethylene glycolHydrochloric acid
spellingShingle Farjad Zafar
Muhammad Ali Sheraz
Syed Abid Ali
Maryam Riaz
Sofia Ahmed
Sadia Hafeez Kazi
Safoora Tariq
Zubair Anwar
PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release
Scientific Reports
Doxycycline hyclate
Xerogels
Chitosan
Polyethylene glycol
Hydrochloric acid
title PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release
title_full PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release
title_fullStr PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release
title_full_unstemmed PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release
title_short PEGylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy: design, characterization, and drug release
title_sort pegylated chitosan xerogels for localized periodontal therapy design characterization and drug release
topic Doxycycline hyclate
Xerogels
Chitosan
Polyethylene glycol
Hydrochloric acid
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05894-1
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