Clinical and radiographic evaluation of melatonin and chitosan loaded nanoparticles in the treatment of periodontal intra-bony defects: A Randomized controlled clinical trial.

objectivesThe current literature lacks the effect of melatonin loaded nanoparticles (LNPs) as local drug delivery (LDD) in the treatment of periodontitis. Hence, the aim of the current study is to investigate the clinical and radiographic effects of melatonin LNPs in patients with periodontal intrabony defects.

methodsThe current study was performed on healthy patients with periodontal intrabony defects. The participants were randomly allocated into 3 groups. Group 1 received scaling and root planing (SRP) with melatonin LNPs, group 2 received placebo gel with SRP, and group 3 received SRP and chitosan LNPs. The primary outcomes included the radiographic measurements of the bone defects to evaluate the bone fill after 6 months. The secondary outcomes included the following clinical parameters; clinical attachment level (CAL), periodontal probing depth (PPD), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI). The clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

resultsThe current study included 67 patients with periodontal intrabony defects. All the study groups demonstrated significant improvements in all the clinical outcomes (CAL, PPD, PI, and GI) (P < 0.05). Melatonin LNPs group revealed the most significant improvement of the radiographic outcomes after 6 months including bone defect height and depth, alveolar crest level, and the buccolingual and mesiodistal width of bone defects) (P < 0.05), followed by chitosan group while insignificant changes were detected in the placebo group (P > 0.05).

conclusionMelatonin LNPs as a LDD can act as a promising therapeutic modality in treating periodontal intrabony defects through significant improvement of the clinical and radiographic outcomes.