Background: Current resorbable and non-resorbable membranes act as a physical barrier to avoid connective and epithelial tissue downgrowth into the defect, favoring the regeneration of periodontal tissues. These conventional membranes possess many structural and bio-functional limitations. We hypothesized that the next-generation of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes for periodontal tissue engineering will be a biologically active, spatially designed nanofibrous biomaterial that closely mimics the native extra-cellular matrix (ECM). Methods: GTR membranes made of poly(ε-Caprolactone) with a molecular weight of 80,000 reinforced with different weight concentrations of nano-Hydroxyapatite/Bioactive glass (2%, 5%, 10%, 15%) is fabricated by the method of electrospinning. After fabrication, in vitro properties are evaluated. Results: The electrospun nanofibrous membranes possessed excellent mechanical properties initially and after one month of degradation in phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Moreover, none of the fabricated membranes were found to be cytotoxic at lower concentrations and higher concentrations. Comparing the overall properties, PCL (poly(e-caprolactone)) + BG (Bioactive glass) 2% exhibited superior cell attachment and percentage of viable cells, increased fiber and pore diameter which satisfies the ideal properties needed for GTR membranes. Conclusion: Composite nanofibrous membranes prepared by electrospinning are suitable for use as a GTR membrane and are a useful prototype for further development of a final membrane for clinical use.

For years the pathogenesis of periodontitis was under an immunological Th1/Th2 paradigm. Th1 cells are considered to afford protection against the intracellular pathogens. These cells produce the interferons (IFN) that are involved in macrophage activation, which, in turn, plays an important role in phagocytosis, complement fixation, and opsonization. Th2 cells are thought to have evolved as a form of protection against parasitic helminthes. Th17 subset of CD4Not Necessary+ T cells was identified in the year 2005, which added greater complexity to Th function and are pro inflammatory in nature. Interleukins (ILs) have the ability to alter immunological changes and they also possess the ability to regulate lymphocyte differentiation and haemopoietic stem cells, cell proliferation, and motility, which are classified as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. There are numerous studies that reported IL-17 levels associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) development. Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered a risk factor for the development of periodontal diseases because the incidence, progression, and severity of periodontal diseases are more common with Type II DM than without DM. This study was aimed at evaluating whether non-surgical periodontal therapy had any effect on plasma concentrations of Interleukin-17 in systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients and in chronic periodontitis patients with well controlled Type II Diabetes mellitus. Patients were divided into the two groups including the chronic periodontitis group (20 subjects) and the chronic periodontitis with well-controlled Type II Diabetes mellitus group (20 subjects). The Gingival Index and Plaque Index as well as the clinical Attachment Level (CAL) were taken from all the patients of two groups after evaluating fasting blood sugar, post prandial blood sugar, and the Glycated Hemoglobin Level (HbA1c). Then 5 mL blood samples were collected from each patient and plasma was separated and the IL-17 level is evaluated using the ELISA method. Then, as part of phase I periodontal therapy, scaling and root planning was performed. Patients were recalled after one month and clinical and biochemical parameters were reevaluated. Non-surgical periodontal therapy resulted in a reduction of plasma levels of IL-17 in chronic periodontitis patients with and without well controlled Type II Diabetes mellitus.