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Abstract Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition caused by bacteria, often causes gradual destruction of the components that support teeth, such as the alveolar bone, cementum, periodontal ligament, and gingiva. This ultimately results in teeth becoming loose and eventually falling out. Timely identification has a crucial role in preventing and controlling its progression. Clinical measures are used to diagnose periodontitis. However, now, there is a hunt for alternative diagnostic and monitoring methods due to the progress of technology. Various biomarkers have been assessed using multiple bodily fluids as sample sources. Furthermore, conventional periodontal categorization factors do not provide significant insights into the present disease activity, severity and amount of tissue damage, future development, and responsiveness to treatment. In recent times, there has been a growing utilization of nanoparticle (NP)-based detection strategies to create quick and efficient detection assays. Every single one of these platforms leverages the distinct characteristics of NPs to identify periodontitis. Plasmonic NPs include metal NPs, quantum dots (QDs), carbon base NPs, and nanozymes, exceptionally potent light absorbers and scatterers. These find application in labeling, surface-enhanced spectroscopy, and color-changing sensors. Fluorescent NPs function as photostable and sensitive instruments capable of labeling various biological targets. This article presents a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the effective utilization of various NPs to detect periodontitis. Graphical Abstract

Stroke is currently one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of effective stroke treatment. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are needed to decrease stroke-induced morbidity and promote the patient’s quality of life. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as one of the major causes of brain injury after ischemic stroke. Antioxidant therapy seems to be an effective treatment in the management of oxidative stress relevant to inflammatory disorders like stroke. However, the in vivo efficacy of traditional anti-oxidative substances is greatly limited due to their non-specific distribution and poor localization in the disease region. In recent years, antioxidant nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated a clinical breakthrough for stroke treatment. Some NPs have intrinsic antioxidant properties and act as antioxidants to scavenge ROS. Moreover, NPs provide protection to the antioxidant agents/enzymes while effectively delivering them into unreachable areas like the brain. Because of their nanoscale dimensions, NPs are able to efficiently pass through the BBB, and easily reach the damaged site. Here, we discuss the challenges, recent advances, and perspectives of antioxidant NPs in stroke treatment.

As a category of small peptides frequently found in nature, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a major part of the innate immune system of various organisms. Antimicrobial peptides feature various inhibitory effects against fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Due to the increasing concerns of antibiotic resistance among microorganisms, development of antimicrobial peptides is an emerging tool as a favorable applicability prospect in food, medicine, aquaculture, animal husbandry, and agriculture. This review presents the latest research progress made in the field of antimicrobial peptides, such as their mechanism of action, classification, application status, design techniques, and a review on decoration of nanoparticles and polymers with AMPs that are used in treating multidrug resistance. Lastly, we will highlight recent progress in antiviral peptides to treat emerging viral diseases (e.g., anti-coronavirus peptides) and discuss the outlook of AMP applications.

The placement of orthodontic appliances into the oral area can lead to infection, inflammatory and gingival collapse. Using an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory material in the matrix of orthodontic appliance may help to reduce these issues. This study aimed to assess the release pattern, the antimicrobial action and the flexural strength of self-cured acrylic resins after adding different weight percentages of curcumin nanoparticles (nanocurcumin). In this in-vitro study, 60 acrylic resin samples were divided into five groups (n = 12) based on the weight percentage of curcumin nanoparticles added to the acrylic powder (0 for control, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5%). Then, the dissolution apparatus was used for the release assessment of nanocurcumin form the resins. For antimicrobial action assessment, the disk diffusion method was used and a three-point bending test was performed with a speed of 5 mm/min to determine the flexural strength. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post-Hoc Tukey tests (with p < 0.05 as significant level). The microscopic images showed the homogeny distribution of nanocuricumin in self-cured acrylic resins in varied concentrations. The release pattern showed a two-step release pattern for all concentrations of nanocurcumin. The one-way ANOVA outcomes indicated that adding curcumin nanoparticles to self-cured resin increased the diameter of the inhibition zones for the groups against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) significantly (p < 0.0001). Additionally, as the weight percentage of curcumin nanoparticles increased, the flexural strength decreased (p < 0.0001). However, all strength values were higher than the standard value (50 MPa). No significant difference was detected between the control group and the group with 0.5 percent (p = 0.57). Considering the proper release pattern and the potent antimicrobial activity of curcumin nanoparticles, then the preparing self-cured resins containing curcumin nanoparticles can be beneficial for antimicrobial aims without damaging the flexural strength to use in orthodontic removable applications.

Rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate (RHT), one of the potential cholinesterase inhibitors, has received great attention as a new drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer′s disease. However, the bioavailability of RHT from the conventional pharmaceutical forms is low because of the presence of the blood brain barrier. The main aim of the present study was to prepare positively charged Eudragit RL 100 nanoparticles as a model scaffold for providing a sustained release profile for RHT. The formulations were evaluated in terms of particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro release properties of lyophilized nanoparticles were also examined. The resulting formulations were found to be in the size range of 118 nm to 154 nm and zeta potential was positive (+22.5 to 30 mV). Nanoparticles showed the entrapment efficiency from 38.40 ± 8.94 to 62.00 ± 2.78%. An increase in the mean particle size and the entrapment efficiency was observed with an increase in the amount of polymer. The FTIR, XRD, and DSC results ruled out any chemical interaction between the drug and Eudragit RL100 polymer. RHT nanoparticles containing low ratio of polymer to drug (4:1) presented a faster drug release and on the contrary, nanoparticles containing high ratio of polymer to drug (10:1) were able to give a more sustained release of the drug. The study revealed that RHT nanoparticles were capable of releasing the drug in a prolonged period of time and increasing the drug bioavailability.