Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) patch loaded with berberine (BBR) for topical application as a postoperative oral dressing. Methods: The PVA patches were placed in aqueous solutions of BBR with different mass fractions (0, 2.5%, 5%), and the PVA patch materials containing different concentrations of BBR were prepared by drying after the BBR was dispersed homogeneously, and they were characterised and tested. The MTT method was used to test the biocompatibility of each group of patches. The antibacterial effects of each group of patch materials on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum were compared by the circle of inhibition method. Finally, the haemostatic properties of the patch materials were assessed by in vitro procoagulant assay and rat tail-breaking model. Results: The drug-carrying patch materials in each group had good physicochemical properties and were capable of sustained and stable release of BBR in vitro. The patches in each group showed good biocompatibility. Compared with PVA patches, 2.5% BBR/PVA and 5% BBR/PVA patches showed significant bacteriostatic effects against periodontal pathogens P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum（P<0.001）. In vivo and vitro haemostatic experiments also showed that all groups had good haemostatic effects（P<0.001）. Conclusions: The BBR-loaded PVA patch material has good physicochemical and biological properties, and has good antibacterial effect against common periodontal pathogens and good haemostatic effect, which is expected to be used as a new type of oral topical antibacterial and haemostatic material.