Anti-caries and periodontitis modulating effect of a controlled release system containing morin: pre-clinical studies.

• Grant number: 24/07055-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Lourenção Brighenti
• Grantee: Luciana Solera Sales
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The natural substance morin, whether in its free form or encapsulated in controlled release systems, has potential for controlling and treating biofilm-dependent oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. This research project aims to: i) develop chewable tablets containing controlled release systems containing morin and evaluate their anti-caries potential in situ; ii) evaluate the anti-inflammatory and periodontitis modulating effect of the controlled release system containing morin in an animal model. To achieve these objectives, the study is divided into two stages: 1) In situ study in a cariogenic model: a double-blind study will be conducted in four phases of 7 days each. Volunteers will wear palatal devices containing enamel blocks, which will undergo cariogenic challenges and receive the proposed treatments twice daily. After the experimental period, the biofilms formed on the blocks will be collected and analyzed for microbial concentration (total bacteria, aciduric bacteria, mutans streptococci and Candida spp.), fluoride (F), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentration and insoluble extracellular polysaccharides (ASP). The enamel will be analyzed for loss of surface hardness (%SH), mineral content, and concentration of F, Ca and P. 2) In vivo study in an animal model of periodontitis: periodontitis will be induced by ligatures on the lower first molars of rats. Experimental treatments with the systems will be carried out on days 0 (the day the ligature is placed), 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. After 7 or 14 days of the experimental period, the animals will be euthanized for subsequent analyses. The following parameters will be studied: bone volume (microcomputed tomography), cellular components in the gingival tissues (H/E), expression of CD45, NFATc1 and NF-kB and the resorption markers RANKL and OPG (immunohistochemistry), expression of IL-6, IL1B, TNF-± and IL-10 proteins (Multiplex ELISA Kits) and antimicrobial effect (viability assessment of A. actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis). (AU)