Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1149-1153, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Sustained release device containing metronidazole for periodontal use
G. Golomb, M. Friedman, A. Soskolne, A. Stabholz and M. N. Sela
The purpose of this study was to develop a sustained release device
containing metronidazole for insertion within periodontal pockets and to
examine the release kinetics in vitro and in vivo. Cast films of ethyl
cellulose with or without polyethylene glycol, containing metronidazole,
were prepared and exhibited sustained release. Release rate of
metronidazole from the film was measured by means of a UV
spectrophotometer, and kinetics of release in vitro was found to conform to
Higuchi's diffusional model. The microbiological results proved that
embedding metronidazole in ethyl cellulose film does not inhibit the
biological activity. The release kinetics in vivo correlated with in vitro
results, exhibiting a sustained release of metronidazole over a period of
three days from 30% metronidazole with polyethylene glycol or 40%
metronidazole in ethyl cellulose chloroform cast. This study demonstrates
that, by embedding metronidazole in ethyl cellulose, it is possible to
obtain sustained release of the drug within the periodontal pocket for
three days.
