Study Of Baicalein Hydrogel In The Treatment Of Chronic Periodontitis

Periodontitis, a plaque biofilm-induced chronic inflammatory disease, causes periodontal tissue destruction and systemic complications. This study aims to screen out the active components from Scutellaria baicalensis (a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties) combined with human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), and prepare a sustained-release hydrogel for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in minipigs. hPDLSCs were cultured from orthodontic teeth using enzymatic digestion and identified through immunofluorescence and differentiation assays. The active components of Scutellaria baicalensis combined with hPDLSC were screened by hPDLSC/CMC-HPLC/MS system. The hydrogel with active components (2% drug, 10% Eudragit RS PO) was formulated and tested for sustained release. A 24-month-old male minipig with chronic periodontitis was used, as approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Therapeutic effects were assessed through clinical indices (PD, BI), radiographic imaging, ELISA (IL-8, PGE2), and histopathology (HE staining, immunohistochemistry). Statistical analyses used SPSS 18.0 with p < 0.05 significance. Successfully isolated hPDLSCs exhibited stem cell properties, Baicalein was the main component that actively binds to hPDLSCs, which can promote hPDLSC proliferation and matrix calcification. The optimized in-situ gel had good stability and flowability. In minipigs, the hydrogel reduced periodontal pocket depth, bleeding, and the inflammation level, and exerted anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects. Baicalein hydrogel demonstrates targeted anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects, offering a novel, sustained-release therapeutic strategy for periodontitis with translational potential. This study bridges traditional medicine and modern drug delivery, validating its clinical relevance.