Has A New Treatment Method For Periodontal Disease Been Found?

Ideally, the antibiotic would only act locally in the mouth rather than throughout the entire body. The research group has therefore combined a proven antibiotic (minocycline) with an equally proven pharmaceutical excipient (magnesium stearate), and found a practical solution to this problem by utilizing pharma-grade polymers. They were able to use these chemical substances to produce flexible, biodegradable rods containing the antibiotic. The small rods can be easily inserted into the gingival pocket, and since they are broken down by the body, they do not have to be removed after treatment. The patent for the complex active ingredient and its formulation was applied for together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, and with the Clinic for Dental Medicine at the University of Bern.  

Development And Production

Rapid implementation in clinical studies is possible since all of the pharmaceutical-grade ingredients are already available on the market. The rods can also be produced using proven techniques so that they can be market ready in just a few years' time. The further development of the formulation and its subsequent market launch will be carried out by PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a start-up company founded by Fraunhofer IZI in Halle. "The body's barrier function is badly disrupted by the large wounds, allowing more substances and bacteria to enter the body," says Professor Karsten Mäder, head of the Institute of Pharmacy at MLU. The inflammation affects the entire body and is often the cause of other diseases such as heart attacks or pneumonia. Therefore, mechanical cleaning procedures are often followed by antibiotics. These are usually administered in pill form, which puts a strain on the entire body. Common side effects are diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea as well as skin reactions such as redness and itching. The possible development of resistance to common antibiotics is also a major factor in this form of treatment. The complex is just as effective, but more stable. It slowly releases the antibiotic on the spot. In addition to the continuous and sustained release of the antibiotic, we needed to find an easy way of administering it."

"The rods are much more effective in vitro than previous products on the market," added Martin Kirchberg. Kirchberg has optimized the composition of the polymers in order to achieve exactly the right balance between strength and flexibility and to make them long-lasting. Development is already so advanced that large-scale production would be possible.

Another Possible New Treatment For Periodontitis?

Colonization of the oral cavity by a bacterial pathogen called Porphyomonas gingivalis is a key event in the development of periodontal disease. This bacteria assembles hair-like structures on its surface called fimbriae to adhere in the oral cavity and initiate and sustain infection. Last year  researchers at Stony Brook University led by David Thanassi, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, revealed details about how fimbriae are assembled and demonstrate that targeting P gingivalis with certain peptides inhibits the fimbriae, thus potentially halting the development of periodontitis. Their method and findings were published in Infection and Immunity

The results of the research, conducted in collaboration with Stephen Walker, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology in the School of Dental Medicine, serve as a foundation for developing drugs that are specifically targeted to inhibit P gingivalis in the oral cavity, providing a new treatment method for periodontal disease and an alternative to the use of traditional antibiotics.

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Written By:

With over 30 years of writing and editing experience for newspapers, magazines and corporate communications, Kevin Kerfoot writes about natural health, nutrition, skincare and oral hygiene for Trusted Health Products’ natural health blog and newsletters.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

 Image by Johannes R. Meister MA from Pixabay