The Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) is funding pioneering research that seeks to develop an innovative treatment option for periodontal disease.
ADIA recently awarded a grant (via the Australian Dental Research Foundation) to Dr Asha Mathew, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Queensland University of Technology.
The money will support Dr Mathew’s research into azithromycin surface-functionalised biodegradable membranes for guided tissue regeneration.
“The objective is to develop a calcium phosphate coated polycaprolactone electrospun membrane loaded with azithromycin for local and controlled antibiotic delivery,” Dr Mathew said.
“This will address the clinical challenge of membrane infection during guided bone regeneration and circumventing the limitations associated with the systemic administration of azithromycin.”
Dr Mathew added: “The importance of this research is underpinned by the fact that it is estimated that 30 to 40 per cent of the total population is affected by periodontitis.”
Troy Williams, ADIA chief executive officer said that ADIA’s support for research into areas such as this “is underpinned by the understanding that it often translates into new and innovative patient treatment and diagnostic treatment options”.
