Fe Doped Ti-MOFs for Enhanced Antibacterial Sonodynamic Therapy of Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a clinical challenge caused by bacterial overgrowth, resulting in irreversible damage to periodontal tissue. Antibacterial sonodynamic therapy (aSDT) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional debridement due to its excellent biocompatibility and tissue penetration capability. However, this therapy cannot cure the periodontitis solely, needing more exploration to find an effectively improved treatment. Here, Fe doped Ti based metal-organic frameworks (Fe/Ti-MOFs) were prepared to explore the relationship between Fe doping and sonoresponsive efficiency. Incorporation of Fe enabled precise modulation of the band structure and crystallinity while maintaining the lattice architecture. Results showed that Fe/Ti-MOFs exhibited enhanced hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation under ultrasonic irradiation, effectively facilitating the eradication of bacterial pathogens. Notably, the sample with a Fe/Ti molar ratio of 0.025 : 1 exhibited exceptional performance. The sonocatalytic activity was collectively influenced by bandgap engineering, Fe doping concentration and crystallinity. Moreover, Fe/Ti-MOFs exhibited no cytotoxicity toward gingival fibroblasts and maintained excellent biocompatibility, without adverse effects on tissue repair. The ultrasound responsive Fe/Ti-MOFs material developed in this study offers potential for mitigating the adverse effects of antibiotics and providing novel insights and strategies for the application of aSDT in periodontitis treatment.