Abstract

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF DOXYCYCLINE LOADED TEA TREE OIL BASED NANOEMULGEL FOR PERIODONTITIS

Hafsa Mohammedi*, Madhu

Abstract

The subgingival microenvironment in periodontitis presents an aggressive physiological barrier due to the constant upward flow of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Establishing a prolonged, controlled retention system inside the periodontal pocket is essential for clinical success. This study aimed to develop a thermoreversible in situ nanoemulgel loaded with Doxycycline (DOX) and Tea Tree Oil (TTO) to achieve targeted, sustained anti-infective activity. O/W nanoemulsions were prepared via high-shear mechanical stirring and ultrasonication using TTO as the lipid core, Tween 20 as a surfactant, and Propylene Glycol (PG) as a co-surfactant. The optimized nanoemulsion (F3) was incorporated into a thermoreversible in situ gelling matrix composed of Poloxamer 407 (15% w/v) and HPMC K100M (5% w/v). Optimized nanoemulsion droplets exhibited an average vesicle size within the ideal submicron range, satisfactory zeta potential, and narrow polydispersity. In situ gelation transitioned perfectly at simulated periodontal temperature (38.09 °C). Ex vivo permeation studies across goat oral mucosa demonstrated a highly controlled, non-Fickian anomalous diffusion pathway (99.46 ± 0.04% release over 12 hours) compared to immediate exhaustion from plain gels (97.73 ± 0.15% at 6 hours). The study concludes that the developed in-situ nanoemulgel offers a sustained, controlled drug release profile through the synergistic action of the nanoemulsion’s oil globules and the dense polymeric matrix of the in-situ gel minimizes total dose requirements, reduces dosing frequency, and enhances patient compliance.

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