A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy

Xavier Roig-Soriano; Luis María Delgado; Firas Elmsmari; Fernando Duran-Sindreu; Miriam Teulé; Marta Espina; Gerard Esteruelas; Maria Luisa García; José Antonio González Sánchez; Elena Sánchez-López

doi:10.1111/iej.70032

A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy

Xavier Roig-Soriano
, Luis María Delgado
, Firas Elmsmari
, Fernando Duran-Sindreu
, Miriam Teulé
, Marta Espina
, Gerard Esteruelas
, Maria Luisa García
, José Antonio González Sánchez
, Elena Sánchez-López

College of Dentistry

University of Barcelona
UIC Barcelona
Polytechnic University of Catalonia

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Aim: To characterise and evaluate mucoadhesive strength and antibacterial properties of a nanotechnological formulation for endodontic disinfection based on biodegradable nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel containing calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel). Methodology: Morphology of Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel was sterilised using gamma irradiation (25 kGy), and the stability after the sterilisation process was studied by measuring Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel average size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. To assess the ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, extracted single-rooted human teeth were used to measure the force necessary to separate the formulation from the teeth. In addition, the short-time stability of Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel was evaluated monthly, analysing entrapment efficacy, backscattering and transmittance of Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel stored at different temperatures (4°C, 25°C and 37°C). Furthermore, the antibacterial analysis of Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel was performed against Enterococcus faecalis inoculated in extracted human single-root teeth and evaluated by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the metabolic activity of bacteria was studied through a resazurin assay to evaluate bacterial survival after treatment. Results: Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel owned a round shape and a smooth surface without particle aggregation. Sterilisation did not induce an alteration in Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel physicochemical properties and Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel presented a high adhesion strength. In addition, 4°C was the best temperature to store Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel. Regarding the antibacterial therapeutic efficacy, Ca(OH)₂-NPs-gel possesses suitable antibacterial properties, indicating that it efficiently reduces bacterial biofilms. Conclusion: Calcium hydroxide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel have been developed, optimised and characterised, obtaining excellent antibacterial properties and achieving bacterial disinfection levels similar to those of commercial formulations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	163-176
Number of pages	14
Journal	International Endodontic Journal
Volume	59
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.70032
State	Published - Jan 2026

Keywords

PLGA
calcium hydroxide
endodontics
intracanal medication
nanoparticles
thermosensitive gel

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10.1111/iej.70032

Cite this

Roig-Soriano, X., Delgado, L. M., Elmsmari, F., Duran-Sindreu, F., Teulé, M., Espina, M., Esteruelas, G., García, M. L., Sánchez, J. A. G., & Sánchez-López, E. (2026). A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy. International Endodontic Journal, 59(1), 163-176. https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.70032

@article{744f6e7b65e146ce8353ae0895dbdfb7,

title = "A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy",

abstract = "Aim: To characterise and evaluate mucoadhesive strength and antibacterial properties of a nanotechnological formulation for endodontic disinfection based on biodegradable nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel containing calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel). Methodology: Morphology of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was sterilised using gamma irradiation (25 kGy), and the stability after the sterilisation process was studied by measuring Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel average size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. To assess the ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, extracted single-rooted human teeth were used to measure the force necessary to separate the formulation from the teeth. In addition, the short-time stability of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was evaluated monthly, analysing entrapment efficacy, backscattering and transmittance of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel stored at different temperatures (4°C, 25°C and 37°C). Furthermore, the antibacterial analysis of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was performed against Enterococcus faecalis inoculated in extracted human single-root teeth and evaluated by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the metabolic activity of bacteria was studied through a resazurin assay to evaluate bacterial survival after treatment. Results: Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel owned a round shape and a smooth surface without particle aggregation. Sterilisation did not induce an alteration in Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel physicochemical properties and Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel presented a high adhesion strength. In addition, 4°C was the best temperature to store Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel. Regarding the antibacterial therapeutic efficacy, Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel possesses suitable antibacterial properties, indicating that it efficiently reduces bacterial biofilms. Conclusion: Calcium hydroxide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel have been developed, optimised and characterised, obtaining excellent antibacterial properties and achieving bacterial disinfection levels similar to those of commercial formulations.",

keywords = "PLGA, calcium hydroxide, endodontics, intracanal medication, nanoparticles, thermosensitive gel",

author = "Xavier Roig-Soriano and Delgado, \{Luis Mar{\'i}a\} and Firas Elmsmari and Fernando Duran-Sindreu and Miriam Teul{\'e} and Marta Espina and Gerard Esteruelas and Garc{\'i}a, \{Maria Luisa\} and S{\'a}nchez, \{Jos{\'e} Antonio Gonz{\'a}lez\} and Elena S{\'a}nchez-L{\'o}pez",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). International Endodontic Journal published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd on behalf of British Endodontic Society.",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1111/iej.70032",

language = "English",

volume = "59",

pages = "163--176",

journal = "International Endodontic Journal",

issn = "0143-2885",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",

number = "1",

}

Roig-Soriano, X, Delgado, LM, Elmsmari, F, Duran-Sindreu, F, Teulé, M, Espina, M, Esteruelas, G, García, ML, Sánchez, JAG & Sánchez-López, E 2026, 'A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy', International Endodontic Journal, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 163-176. https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.70032

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy

AU - Roig-Soriano, Xavier

AU - Delgado, Luis María

AU - Elmsmari, Firas

AU - Duran-Sindreu, Fernando

AU - Teulé, Miriam

AU - Espina, Marta

AU - Esteruelas, Gerard

AU - García, Maria Luisa

AU - Sánchez, José Antonio González

AU - Sánchez-López, Elena

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - Aim: To characterise and evaluate mucoadhesive strength and antibacterial properties of a nanotechnological formulation for endodontic disinfection based on biodegradable nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel containing calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel). Methodology: Morphology of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was sterilised using gamma irradiation (25 kGy), and the stability after the sterilisation process was studied by measuring Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel average size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. To assess the ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, extracted single-rooted human teeth were used to measure the force necessary to separate the formulation from the teeth. In addition, the short-time stability of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was evaluated monthly, analysing entrapment efficacy, backscattering and transmittance of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel stored at different temperatures (4°C, 25°C and 37°C). Furthermore, the antibacterial analysis of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was performed against Enterococcus faecalis inoculated in extracted human single-root teeth and evaluated by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the metabolic activity of bacteria was studied through a resazurin assay to evaluate bacterial survival after treatment. Results: Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel owned a round shape and a smooth surface without particle aggregation. Sterilisation did not induce an alteration in Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel physicochemical properties and Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel presented a high adhesion strength. In addition, 4°C was the best temperature to store Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel. Regarding the antibacterial therapeutic efficacy, Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel possesses suitable antibacterial properties, indicating that it efficiently reduces bacterial biofilms. Conclusion: Calcium hydroxide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel have been developed, optimised and characterised, obtaining excellent antibacterial properties and achieving bacterial disinfection levels similar to those of commercial formulations.

AB - Aim: To characterise and evaluate mucoadhesive strength and antibacterial properties of a nanotechnological formulation for endodontic disinfection based on biodegradable nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel containing calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel). Methodology: Morphology of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was sterilised using gamma irradiation (25 kGy), and the stability after the sterilisation process was studied by measuring Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel average size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. To assess the ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, extracted single-rooted human teeth were used to measure the force necessary to separate the formulation from the teeth. In addition, the short-time stability of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was evaluated monthly, analysing entrapment efficacy, backscattering and transmittance of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel stored at different temperatures (4°C, 25°C and 37°C). Furthermore, the antibacterial analysis of Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel was performed against Enterococcus faecalis inoculated in extracted human single-root teeth and evaluated by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the metabolic activity of bacteria was studied through a resazurin assay to evaluate bacterial survival after treatment. Results: Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel owned a round shape and a smooth surface without particle aggregation. Sterilisation did not induce an alteration in Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel physicochemical properties and Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel presented a high adhesion strength. In addition, 4°C was the best temperature to store Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel. Regarding the antibacterial therapeutic efficacy, Ca(OH)2-NPs-gel possesses suitable antibacterial properties, indicating that it efficiently reduces bacterial biofilms. Conclusion: Calcium hydroxide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles dispersed in a thermosensitive gel have been developed, optimised and characterised, obtaining excellent antibacterial properties and achieving bacterial disinfection levels similar to those of commercial formulations.

KW - PLGA

KW - calcium hydroxide

KW - endodontics

KW - intracanal medication

KW - nanoparticles

KW - thermosensitive gel

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018342416

U2 - 10.1111/iej.70032

DO - 10.1111/iej.70032

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105018342416

SN - 0143-2885

VL - 59

SP - 163

EP - 176

JO - International Endodontic Journal

JF - International Endodontic Journal

IS - 1

ER -

A Thermosensitive Gel Containing Biodegradable Nanoparticles Carrying Calcium Hydroxide as Antibacterial Intracanal Therapy

Abstract

Keywords

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