NANOGELS: A NOVEL FRONTIER IN PERIODONTAL THERAPEUTICS

Abstract

Nanogels are nanosized, three-dimensional crosslinked polymeric networks capable of retaining large amounts of water while maintaining structural integrity. Due to their unique physicochemical properties, including high biocompatibility, small size, and stimuli-responsive behaviour, nanogels have emerged as promising carriers in advanced drug delivery systems. They enable controlled, sustained, and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing systemic toxicity. Emulsion polymerization, inverse mini emulsion, and click chemistry are various synthesis approaches that allows precise control over nanogel architecture. Nanogels have demonstrated significant applications in cancer therapy, gene delivery, vaccine delivery, and localized treatments, particularly in dentistry and periodontics. This review highlights the design principles, synthesis methods, drug loading mechanisms, biomedical applications, and recent advances in nanogel-based drug delivery systems, with a special emphasis on periodontal applications.

Keywords

Periodontitis, Nanogels, local Drug delivery, regeneration