title: Biocompatibility and cytotoxic evaluation of drug-loaded biodegradable guided tissue regeneration membranes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In periodontology, Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) is based on the concept of providing a space for entry of cells with regenerative potential into the wound environment to initiate the regeneration of structures lost due to periodontal disease. First generation GTR membranes were primarily non-absorbable membranes like expanded polytetrafluorethylene which required a second surgery for its removal. This led researchers to explore absorbable materials like collagen and synthetic biodegradable polymers to fabricate GTR membranes. In the present study, biodegradable Polylactic acid (PLA) is used to fabricate membranes with the potential to be used for GTR therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biocompatibility of the PLA membranes were evaluated in a subcutaneous guinea pig model. Antimicrobial effect of the drug-loaded PLA membranes were assessed against a drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial isolate. The cytocompatibility of the drug-loaded membranes were evaluated using HeLa cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PLA membranes were shown to be biocompatible. The drug-loaded PLA membranes showed significant activity against the bacterial isolate. Among the drug-loaded membranes, tetracycline-loaded membrane showed minimal cellular toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that biodegradable drug-releasing polylactide membranes have the potential to be used for periodontal regeneration. It has the necessary characteristics of a GTR membrane like biocompatibility, space maintaining ability, and tissue integration. Among the various antimicrobial agents loaded in the PLA membranes, tetracycline-loaded membranes exhibited minimal cellular toxicity against HeLa cells; at the same time showing significant activity against a pathogenic bacterium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
authors.forename: Nebu G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sanil
authors.forename: Rajmohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gopimohan
authors.forename: Jayachandran V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Prabhakaran
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Amulya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Panda
keywords: Barrier membranes; biocompatibility; cellular toxicity; guided tissue regeneration; polylactic acid; tetracycline loaded