Dual-functional PUN-MPDA hydrogel for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment of periodontitis

Periodontitis, a bacteria-induced inflammatory and osteolytic disease, remains a major cause of tooth loss and is commonly treated through mechanical debridement combined with antibiotics. However, conventional antibiotic therapy often causes drug resistance and fails to achieve simultaneous antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. In this work, a dual-functional punicalagin–mesoporous polydopamine (PUN–MPDA) hydrogel nanoplatform was developed based on an injectable hyaluronic acid–phenylboronic acid–poly(vinyl alcohol) (HA–PBA–PVA, HPP) matrix for combined photothermal antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy. The nanoplatform exhibited excellent photothermal performance and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Under 808 nm near-infrared irradiation, antibacterial efficiencies against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum reached 99.1 % and 99.2 %, respectively, with efficient eradication of mixed-species biofilm. The hydrogel also showed good biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory capacity by downregulating pro-inflammatory genes ( Il-6 , Tnf-α ) and upregulating anti-inflammatory genes ( Il-10 , Tgf-β ), thereby enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity and promoting mineralized nodule formation. In a rat periodontitis model, the nanoplatform effectively alleviated inflammation, reduced collagen degradation, and inhibited alveolar bone resorption. Collectively, this PUN–MPDA hydrogel nanoplatform offers a promising light-controllable therapeutic strategy integrating antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and osteogenic effects for advanced periodontitis therapy.