Drug loading capacity of microporous β-pyrophosphate crystals

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are two characteristic examples where bacterial infections compromise the healing of dental tissues. Drug eluting scaffolds are a potential solution to this problem but their fabrication requires suitable biomaterials with significant drug loading capacity and regenerative potential to support new tissue formation. With this aim, porous β-pyrophosphate crystals having a micro-pore area of 2.59 m2/g and an average pore diameter of 65 nm, have been obtained by the heat treatment of brushite (at 780 °C). To demonstrate the drug loading potential of the mineral, experiments with chloramphenicol have been conducted. After tests with four common bacteria, the drug loaded mineral was shown to have enhanced antibacterial properties, particularly towards E. coli (74% growth inhibition) and S. aureus (48% growth inhibition). Taking into account β-pyrophosphate's significant role in hard tissue mineralisation and the capability to tailor crystal micro-porosity characteristics by controlled heat treatment, the mineral can be considered as an ideal biomaterial for localised drug delivery in dental applications.