Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the periodontal tissues, in which local drug delivery represents a promising approach for improving treatment outcomes. The aim of this thesis was to develop mucoadhesive gel formulations containing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) loaded with curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids and to evaluate their physicochemical, rheological, and mechanical properties, as well as their short-term physical stability.
Gel formulations based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and carbomer were prepared. Based on a screening evaluation, including pH measurements, visual assessment, viscosity measurements, and oscillatory testing to confirm gel structure, the most suitable formulations were selected for further development of composite gels. The selected gels were incorporated with an NLC dispersion containing curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids, which was prepared using rotor-stator homogenization followed by sonication. The effect of NLC incorporation on the properties of the prepared formulations was evaluated based on viscosity and mechanical properties. The NLC dispersion was also characterized, and a short-term stability study of the gels with NLC was performed, during which NLC particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential were monitored.
The results showed that all formulations exhibited pseudoplastic behavior. The selected formulations demonstrated suitable rheological and mechanical properties for local application, while the incorporation of NLC did not significantly affect their rheological behavior. The NLC exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and suitable physicochemical properties. Among the formulations containing NLC, blend formulation hydroxypropyl methylcellulose : carbomer = 50 : 50 exhibited the best adhesive properties. The short-term stability study showed changes in particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency during storage, with no consistent trend observed for any of the parameters. Based on the results, it was not possible to unambiguously identify the most stable formulation.
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