Characterization of an antibiotic imregnated delivery systems as an intracanal medicament in endodontic therapy

Abstract

Endodontic fibers comprising a biocompatible polymer vehicle permeable to medicaments, or combinations of medicaments are described. Such fibers can be used, for example, in a method for the local delivery and sustained release of medicaments to periodontal or intracanal treatment sites. Endodontic fibers described include modified periodontal fibers and intracanal fibers.

1 . An endodontic fiber suitable for the local delivery and sustained release of one or more medicaments incorporated therein to an intracanal treatment site, comprising a rigid biocompatible copolymer vehicle having incorporated therein one or more antibiotics, wherein said endodontic fiber can be positioned deep within a root canal to enable said one or more antibiotics to act locally at a site of deep bacterial infection and wherein said endodontic fiber comprises a dose of said one or more antibiotics, wherein the delivered dose comprises at least the minimum inhibitory concentration for the medicament to inhibit said bacteria. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the antibiotic selected from the group consisting of clindamycin, tetracycline neomycin, kanamycin, metranidazole, canamycin and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit said bacteria is at least between about 0.1 mg/mL and about 0.4 mg/mL. 
     
     
         5 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 2 , wherein the medicament further comprises an anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method for the local delivery and sustained release of a medicament to an intracanal treatment site using an endodontic fiber, wherein the endodontic fiber comprises a rigid biocompatible copolymer vehicle having incorporated therein one or more antibiotics, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a) positioning the rigid endodontic fiber in the root canal such that the fiber is in direct contact with the treatment site; and   b) maintaining the fiber at the treatment site, wherein the antibiotic is delivered to the treatment site at least at a minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit bacteria, wherein the delivered minimum inhibitory concentration is between about 0.1 mg/mL and about 0.4 mg/mL.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the endodontic fiber is a modified periodontal fiber or an intracanal fiber. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating an endodontic bacterial infection comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting a rigid endodontic fiber for intracanal use having one or more antibiotics incorporated therein into the root canal such that the fiber is in direct contact with the treatment site; and   b) maintaining the rigid endodontic fiber at the treatment site, wherein the antibiotic is delivered to the treatment site at least at a minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit bacteria, wherein the delivered minimum inhibitory concentration is between about 0.1 mg/mL and about 0.4 mg/mL.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the endodontic fiber is a modified periodontal fiber or an intracanal fiber. 
     
     
         11 . A method of disinfecting a root canal receiving endodontic treatment at a treatment site using an endodontic fiber, wherein the endodontic fiber comprises a rigid biocompatible copolymer vehicle having incorporated therein one or more medicaments, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a) inserting the rigid endodontic fiber into a debrided and irrigated root canal such that the fiber is in direct contact with the treatment site; and   b) maintaining the endodontic fiber at the treatment site, wherein the medicament is administered to the treatment site at least at a minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit bacteria, wherein the delivered minimum inhibitory concentration is between about 0.1 mg/mL and about 0.4 mg/mL.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the endodontic fiber is a modified periodontal fiber or an intracanal fiber. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid biocompatible copolymer vehicle is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, collagen, cellulosic polymers, glycolic acid polymers, methacrylate polymers, polycaprolactones, polyurethanes, polylactides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has a diameter of from about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more antibiotics is selected from the group consisting of clindamycin, tetracycline, neomycin, kanamycin, metranidazole and canamycin. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the intracanal fiber comprises a rigid ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, said copolymer comprising less than about 15 weight percent vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the intracanal fiber has a diameter from about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the intracanal fiber further comprises an anti-inflammatory medicament. 
     
     
         27 . An endodontic fiber suitable for the local delivery and sustained release of one or more medicaments incorporated therein to an intracanal treatment site, comprising a rigid biocompatible copolymer vehicle having incorporated therein one or more medicaments, wherein said endodontic fiber can be positioned deep within a root canal to enable said one or more medicaments to act locally at a site of deep bacterial infection and wherein the rigid biocompatible copolymer vehicle is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, collagen, cellulosic polymers, glycolic acid polymers, methacrylate polymers, polycaprolactones, polyurethanes, polylactides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 27 , wherein the medicament is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, antimicrobial agents, immune reagents, and immunomodulatory agents or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 27 , wherein the medicament is an antibiotic selected from the group consisting of clindamycin, tetracycline neomycin, kanamycin, metranidazole, canamycin and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 27 , wherein said endodontic fiber comprises a dose of said one or more antibiotics, wherein the delivered dose comprises at least the minimum inhibitory concentration for the medicament to inhibit said bacteria. 
     
     
         31 . The endodontic fiber of  claim 30 , wherein the minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit said bacteria is at least between about 0.1 mg/mL and about 0.4 mg/mL.