TETRACYCLINE GEL FOR TREATMENT OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

PERIODONTAL DISEASE HAS ASSUMED PRIMARY IMPORTANCE AS THE CAUSE OF ADULT TOOTH LOSS. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT TETRACYCLINE, WHEN PLACED WITHIN A DISEASED PERIODONTAL POCKET, CAN REDUCE POPULATIONS OF THE DISEASE-CAUSING PATHOGENS AND AMELIORATE THE DISEASE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP AND TEST A TETRACYCLINE RESERVOIR THAT CAN BE DELIVERED BY SYRINGE, WILL FILL THE POCKET, CONFORMING TO ITS CONTOURS, AND WILL RETAIN ITS INTEGRITY FOR 7 TO 10 DAYS. DURING THIS TIME, TETRACYCLINE WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY RELEASEDTO THE INFECTED PERIODONTAL POCKET. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, SEVERAL TETRACYCLINE COMPLEXES WILL BE TESTED IN VARIOUS FORMULATIONS. TISSUE FLUID IS EXPECTED TO GEL THE MATRIX, IN SITU, AND LATER TO BIODEGRADE THE MATRIX MATERIAL. THE FINAL FORMULATION WILL BE TESTED IN FOUR BEAGLES WITH EXISTING PERIODONTAL POCKETS. ASSUMING THAT EACH DOG HAS 5 POCKETS, 12 WILL BE FILLED WITH THE FORMULATED DRUG, 4 WITH PLACEBO MATRIX, AND 4 WILL REMAIN EMPTY. THE EXTENT OF ACTIVE DISEASE WILL BE ESTIMATED ON DAYS 0 AND 7 USING STANDARD CLINICAL CRITERIA AND BACTERIAL ANALYSIS (DMDX). RESIDUAL GEL WILL BE REMOVED ON DAY 7 AND TESTED FOR RESIDUAL DRUG AND MATRIX MATERIAL. BIOPSIES WILL BE TAKEN FROM SELECTED SITES AND EXAMINED FOR EPITHELIAL ULCERATION, INFLAMMATORY INFILTRATION INTO UNDERLYING CONNECTIVE TISSUE,AND PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF GIANT CELL RESPONSE.