Curclodent: Development of a Curcumin-clove Oil-loaded Chitosan-gelatin Dental Implant Coating

Abstract

Dental implants are often subjected to failure due to periapical disease, which is mostly caused by bacterial adherence to the implant surface and delayed identification of infection [9]. In this study, we developed a multifunctional biopolymer coating called CurcloDent, which provides not only antimicrobial protection but also allows for the detection of peri-implant inflammation based on pH. CurcloDent is made up of a chitosan-gelatin matrix bridged with Tannic acid and contains curcumin and clove extract as natural antimicrobial agents [12-15]. The incorporation of bromocresol purple as a pH indicator allows for visual recognition of acidic microenvironments associated with peri-implant inflammation. Preliminary implant models were created by applying the coatings to stainless steel substrates via a dip-coating method. The successful integration and crosslinking of the polymers was confirmed with FTIR, and contact angle measurements of the CurcloDent coating indicated moderate levels of hydrophilia/biocompatibility and therefore were deemed suitable for use in biological settings. The CurcloDent coatings demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through surface-mediated antimicrobial action, and therefore may help to increase the lifespan of the implant. Future biological validation studies need to be conducted to determine their usability in clinical settings.