Increasing the effectiveness of the treatment of oral diseases by developing a silver nanoparticle-loaded in situ gel based on smart polymers

The project is focused on the preparation of an oral dosage form, a type of in situ forming gel containing silver nanoparticles. An in situ gel is a formulation prepared as a solution or suspension containing a drug and excipients which are exposed at the site of application to various physiological or externally applied stimuli (e.g. temperature, pH, ion concentration, redox reactions, light irradiation, magnetic field, ultrasound) resulting in the formation of physical or chemical bonds between the chains and the formation of a three-dimensional structure. This process is visually manifested by the formation of a gel. The importance of the dosage form lies in the convenient application in liquid form to different sites of the oral cavity and in the longer residence time at the site of application after gel formation, with the achievement of prolonged drug release. These properties predetermine in situ gels for the treatment of periodontal diseases, in particular periodontitis and gingivitis, or mucositis, oral candidiasis or the treatment of oral lesions and the prevention of their infection, e.g. after tooth extraction. Such treatment is associated with a reduction in the effective dose of the drug, reduced dosing frequency, reduced risk of adverse effects and interactions and enhanced patient compliance.