Therapeutic Efficacy of ASA-ALN-CDs in Periodontitis: From Antibiofilm/Anti-Inflammation to Alveolar Bone Regeneration

Periodontitis involves bacterial infection, inflammation, and bone loss, requiring multifaceted treatment. Here, we developed a multifunctional carbon dot nanomaterial (ASA-ALN-CDs) from aspirin and alendronate sodium via one-step microwave-assisted synthesis. ASA-ALN-CDs showed potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, high bone-targeting ability, and good cytocompatibility. The material suppressed LPS-induced IL-1β and IL-6 expression and promoted osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells under inflammatory conditions. In a rat periodontitis model, local administration of ASA-ALN-CDs reduced alveolar bone loss and inflammation. Mechanistically, ASA-ALN-CDs inhibited the HIF-1α signaling pathway and downregulated LDHA and VEGF. Collectively, ASA-ALN-CDs represent a promising bone-targeting nanoplatform integrating antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-osteogenic functions for periodontitis therapy.