Dual-drug nanocarriers: Solid lipid nanoparticles and niosomes for enhanced denture disease treatment

Nanotechnology-based carriers, such as solid lipid nanoparticles and niosomes, offer promising strategies to enhance the local delivery and efficacy of antimicrobial agents, including fluconazole and clindamycin, in periodontal therapy. Clindamycin-loaded niosomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method with non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol, followed by hydration with clindamycin phosphate and probe sonication. Fluconazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (FLZ-SLNs) were synthesized through high-shear homogenization and ultrasonication, alongside blank SLNs as controls. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 96.9 to 181.1 nm for niosomes and 107.5–122.6 nm for SLNs. FTIR spectra revealed characteristic drug peaks (clindamycin: 3251, 1042, 565 cm⁻¹; fluconazole: 3119, 674 cm⁻¹) and shifts in O–H, C–H, and C–O bands upon drug encapsulation, confirming successful incorporation and interactions within carriers. UV–visible spectrophotometry calibration curves demonstrated strong linearity (R² > 0.97) for precise quantification of the drug. Drug release studies revealed an initial rapid release (∼65 % within 200 min), followed by sustained release of up to 70 % over 24 h, with niosomes releasing faster initially. Zeta potentials ranged from −62.7 mV (drug-free SLNs) to −15.3 mV (drug-loaded SLNs), indicating altered nanoparticle stability post-drug loading. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated significantly enhanced inhibition zones for clindamycin-loaded niosomes (25–44 mm) and fluconazole-loaded SLNs (22–36 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Candida albicans, highlighting improved efficacy of these nanocarriers in dental soft-liner applications in comparison with the positive control.