Bacterial cellulose adhesive composites for oral cavity applications

Abstract Topical approaches to oral diseases require frequent dosing due to limited retention time. A mucoadhesive drug delivery platform with extended soft tissue adhesion capability of up to 7 days is proposed for on-site management of oral wound. Bacterial cellulose (BC) and photoactivated carbene-based bioadhesives (PDz) are combined to yield flexible film platform for interfacing soft tissues in dynamic, wet environments. Structure-activity relationships evaluate UV dose and hydration state with respect to adhesive strength on soft tissue mimics. The bioadhesive composite has an adhesion strength ranging from 7 to 17 kPa and duration exceeding 48 h in wet conditions under sustained shear forces, while other mucoadhesives based on hydrophilic macromolecules exhibit adhesion strength of 0.5–5 kPa and last only a few hours. The work highlights the first evaluation of BC composites for mucoadhesive treatments in the buccal cavity.