The team, from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FCMS) at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP) in Sorocaba, developed the material as part of an effort to improve treatment options for a condition that affects the tissues supporting the teeth.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by infection. Over time, it can destroy the structures that hold teeth in place, leading to bone loss and reduced attachment between teeth and surrounding tissues.

Current treatments are designed to control infection and inflammation, but they generally do little to regenerate damaged periodontal tissue. Other approaches, including guided tissue regeneration and bone grafting, have been explored, but their results can vary and are often difficult to predict.

Combining Natural Materials and Medicine

To overcome these limitations, the researchers investigated natural bioactive materials that could address several aspects of the disease at the same time.

"We began to view latex extracted from jackfruit as an interesting alternative, as it has adhesive properties. This led us to believe that it could remain longer at the site affected by periodontitis, promoting a more targeted release of therapeutic compounds and potentially reducing the need for systemic antibiotic use," explains Professor Eliana Aparecida de Rezende Duek, from the Department of Surgery at the FCMS.

Duek coordinated the study, which was supported by FAPESP (projects 23/17083-8 and 23/12039-0) and published in the journal Polymer Bulletin.

The researchers combined jackfruit latex with pomegranate peel extract, which is known for its antimicrobial properties when applied topically, and simvastatin, an anti-inflammatory drug that has also been studied for its ability to stimulate bone formation. Together, the ingredients formed a mucoadhesive matrix designed to act directly on damaged tissue.

Using simvastatin in this way may offer another advantage. When taken orally, most of the drug is retained by the liver, and only a small amount enters the bloodstream. As a result, higher doses are often needed, increasing the risk of side effects, including acute muscle degeneration. Delivering the drug directly to the affected area could help avoid that problem.

Testing the Jackfruit Latex Gel

To create the biomaterial, the scientists manually collected latex from freshly harvested jackfruit and carefully purified it. Pomegranate peel extract was then incorporated into the material.

The team carried out a series of physicochemical and biological analyses to better understand how the biomaterial was structured and how it behaved under laboratory conditions.

The researchers also performed an in vitro study using human adipose-derived stem cells. Simvastatin was added to the gel at concentrations of 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.2%. These levels did not alter the gel's structure and were considered technically safe.

All three concentrations promoted osteoinduction, the process that encourages cells to develop into bone-forming tissue, within 14 days. The effect became even stronger after 21 days, supporting the material's potential as a treatment for periodontitis.

Encouraging Early Results

"Overall, the results were very encouraging for us. We observed that the developed biomaterial has great potential for future applications in treating periodontitis and in other areas as well, especially since it involves a material that has received little attention in the scientific literature for biomedical use," says Duek.

She cautions that additional research is still needed before the technology can move closer to clinical use.

"Despite these promising results, we're continuing to move forward with new studies to more thoroughly evaluate the efficacy and safety of the system," she adds.