{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,19]],"date-time":"2026-04-19T06:13:57Z","timestamp":1776579237658,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,22]],"date-time":"2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745280000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\/MCTES, Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia and Minist\u00e9rio da Ci\u00eancia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior","award":["UID\/QUI\/50006\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/QUI\/50006\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["UID\/QUI\/50006\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/QUI\/50006\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Intracanal reinfections continue to pose a major challenge in endodontic treatment. Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising antimicrobial strategy. Regarding this, curcumin (CUR), a natural photosensitizer, shows potential in this context, but its application is hampered by poor solubility and rapid degradation. This study aimed to develop and characterize a CUR-loaded nanoparticle-enriched hydrogel to enhance its stability, sustain its release, and evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy upon photoactivation (PhAc). Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into a hydrogel matrix, followed by characterization using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, in vitro CUR release studies, and rheological analysis. Antibiofilm activity against Enterococcus faecalis was assessed under both photoactivated and non-photoactivated conditions. Cytocompatibility was analyzed through fibroblast viability assays and fluorescence staining. The CUR-containing hydrogel demonstrated a sustained release profile extending beyond 72 h. Rheological studies confirmed its shear-thinning behavior, ensuring injectability even after post-photoactivation. Antibiofilm assays revealed a significant reduction in E. faecalis biofilms, with PhAc formulations exhibiting markedly enhanced antibacterial efficacy compared to their non-PhAc counterparts. Cytocompatibility assays confirmed that all formulations, including those subjected to PDT, preserved fibroblast viability, indicating biocompatibility suitable for clinical use. In sum, the CUR-containing hydrogel exhibits properties that support its potential as an effective intracanal therapeutic, combining antimicrobial and photodynamic effects to help prevent reinfections in endodontic treatments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels11050308","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,22]],"date-time":"2025-04-22T05:03:13Z","timestamp":1745298193000},"page":"308","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Photoactivated Curcumin-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles in Hydrogel: A Cutting-Edge Intracanal Medicament for Advanced Endodontic Therapy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7682-5234","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"S\u00f3nia","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dental Sciences, IUCS-CESPU: University Institute of Health Sciences-Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio Associado para a Qu\u00edmica Verde-Rede de Qu\u00edmica e Tecnologia (LAQV, REQUIMTE), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Liliana","family":"Grenho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BoneLab, Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio Associado para a Qu\u00edmica Verde-Rede de Qu\u00edmica e Tecnologia (LAQV, REQUIMTE), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9391-9574","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria H.","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BoneLab, Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio Associado para a Qu\u00edmica Verde-Rede de Qu\u00edmica e Tecnologia (LAQV, REQUIMTE), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8777-5877","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sofia A. Costa","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio Associado para a Qu\u00edmica Verde-Rede de Qu\u00edmica e Tecnologia (LAQV, REQUIMTE), Instituto de Ci\u00eancias Biom\u00e9dicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103322","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pdpdt.2023.103322","article-title":"Improving Antimicrobial Activity against Endodontic Biofilm after Exposure to Blue Light-Activated Novel Curcumin Nanoparticle","volume":"42","author":"Minhaco","year":"2023","journal-title":"Photodiagnosis Photodyn. 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