MgH2-PLGA@TiO2-x-Alginate core-shell microspheres demonstrate significant therapeutic potential for periodontitis treatment through sustained hydrogen and magnesium ion release combined with peroxidase-like catalytic activity. The biomaterial platform effectively reduces bacterial load, suppresses inflammation, inhibits bone resorption, and promotes bone repair in both in vitro and in vivo models, suggesting promising clinical applications for localized periodontal therapy.
Plain-Language Summary
Researchers developed a specialized material made of magnesium hydride, a biodegradable polymer, and titanium dioxide that can be placed directly in the gum to treat periodontitis (a serious gum disease). The material slowly releases hydrogen molecules and magnesium ions over a week, which reduce inflammation and harmful oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules). In rat studies, this treatment reduced bacteria, decreased inflammation, stopped bone loss, and promoted bone healing over one month.
Abstract
Periodontitis is among the most prevalent and challenging oral diseases worldwide. Effective intervention requires strategies that not only eliminate pathogens but also modulate the dysregulated oxidative microenvironment. Hydrogen (H2) therapy holds promise in periodontitis immunotherapy due to its exceptional safety profile and unique selective antioxidant properties. Here, we present a tailored biomaterial platform-Magnesium hydride (MgH2)-Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)@Oxygen-deficient titanium dioxide (TiO2-x)-Alginate core-shell microspheres (MTMs)-fabricated via coaxial electrostatic microdroplet technology for localized periodontitis therapy. This system provides rapid antibacterial activity together with sustained remodeling of the local tissue microenvironment. The MTMs achieve long-term antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the synergistic sustained release of hydrogen molecules and Mg2+ ions (up to 7 days). Concurrently, the surface-etched TiO2-x particles embedded in the shell layer, exhibiting peroxidase-like catalytic activity, enable rapid antibacterial effects in the presence of low-level exogenous hydrogen peroxide. In vitro, MTMs attenuated oxidative stress in periodontal ligament stem cells and promoted lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages to polarize from pro-inflammatory M1 toward reparative M2 phenotypes. In a rat periodontitis model, short-term treatment (1 week) reduced bacterial load, mitigated inflammation, and inhibited bone resorption, while long-term application (1 month) promoted bone repair and remodeling. These findings demonstrate that MTMs represent a powerful therapeutic platform for periodontitis and hold potential for broader biomedical applications.
