Sustained Release of Bioactive Compounds from Polymer Microcapsules for Smart Dental Composites

Abstract

Natural plant extracts have been shown as effective and attractive dental biomaterials with promising properties for restorative/reparative procedures. These bioactive extracts, however, may lose their stability when exposed to air, moisture, or light, if not well-protected. Here, we present a novel technique for sequestering bioactive extracts within polymer microcapsules for long-term stability and controlled release of active compounds as needed. We use a combination of water-oil-water (W/O/W) double emulsion and solvent evaporation techniques to encapsulate watersoluble bioactives within polymer microcapsules. Polylactide acid was used as the encapsulating polymer to provide sustained release of bioactive compounds from microcapsules. Manufactured microcapsules possess a polynuclear inner structure as a result of two-step double emulsion technique. We demonstrate the ability to control the size and core loading of microcapsules with varying the key microencapsulation parameters.