Ascorbic Acid-Loaded Photothermal Aiegens For Peri-Implantitis Therapy

To address challenges in peri-implantitis treatment, we combined the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of ascorbic acid (AA) with the photothermal antibacterial properties of aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) to design a novel nanodrug delivery system (4TPE-C6T-TD@AA) that enables NIR-triggered photothermal antibacterial action, inflammation reduction, and fluorescence imaging-guided therapy, overcoming drug delivery limitations in implant microstructures. 4TPE-C6T-TD@AA loaded with ascorbic acid were synthesized via precipitation and characterized for morphology, size, and photothermal traits. In vitro, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were treated with varying nanoparticle concentrations under 808 nm laser irradiation, followed by live/dead staining, crystal violet assays, SEM imaging, and bioinformatics analysis. A rat maxillofacial infection model assessed biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. 4TPE-C6T-TD@AA exhibited a 55% photothermal conversion efficiency, achieving an effectively elimination in bacteria and biofilms within complex structures, facilitating the transformation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages into anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, thereby modulating the inflammatory microenvironment surrounding peri-implantitis. In vivo, the nanoparticles demonstrated rapid bacterial clearance in rat maxillofacial wounds and enhanced S. aureus-infected wound healing via collagen formation and inflammatory regulation. This study demonstrates the dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory efficacy of ascorbic acid-loaded AIE nanoparticles for peri-implantitis therapy. Leveraging photothermal effects for bacterial and biofilm eradication, and ROS scavenging for enhanced anti-inflammatory repair, offering a promising new integrated approach for peri-implantitis management with strong potential for clinical translation.