Attachment of periodontal ligament cells to chlorhexidine-loaded guided tissue regeneration membranes.
BACKGROUND
Early exposure of a guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane in the oral cavity results in bacterial contamination, which may lead to failure or incomplete regeneration. Incorporation of antimicrobial agents in GTR membranes may be valuable to control membrane-associated infection during GTR therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the incorporation of chlorhexidine into various GTR membranes improves the attachment of periodontal ligament cells in the presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.


METHODS
The possible effects of chlorhexidine on the viability of primary human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells were determined using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), which measures cellular metabolic activity. An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane, glycolide fiber membrane, and collagen membrane were loaded with chlorhexidine and characterized. Attachment of PDL cells to the chlorhexidine-loaded membranes with or without A. actinomycetemcomitans was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.


RESULTS
Relative cellular viability of PDL cells was reduced to approximately 50% when 15 microg/ml (0.0015%) of chlorhexidine was used. Chlorhexidine released from the coated GTR membranes inhibited the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans. At the concentration used in this study, chlorhexidine incorporated into the GTR membranes did not interfere with the attachment of PDL cells. The inhibitory effects of A. actinomycetemcomitans on cellular attachment were reduced using chlorhexidine-loaded membranes, including ePTFE, glycolide fiber, and collagen membranes.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that incorporation of chlorhexidine into GTR membranes is beneficial in reducing bacterial effects on cellular attachment. The future application of chlorhexidine-loaded membranes during GTR therapy may be of value.
Chen
Yen-Ting
YT
Faculty of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hung
Shan-Ling
SL
Lin
Li-Wen
LW
Chi
Lin-Yang
LY
Ling
Li-Jane
LJ
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004867:Equipment Design; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004396:Coloring Agents; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D003094:Collagen; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D002710:Chlorhexidine