UDC 577.615.324-027.2.615.076

   Creation of novel remedies efficient in supporting wound healing remains an actual task in pharmacology. Hydrogels showed high efficiency in wound healing and tissue regeneration due to viscosity, elasticity and fluidity that provide them with functional characteristics similar to that in extracellular matrix. The aim of the study was to create chitosan-based hydrogels functionalized with different components (chondroitin-6-sulfate, hyaluronic acid, N-stearoylethanolamine) and to estimate their biocompatibility and biodegradability in vitro. For the first time, a lipid substance N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) known as suppressor of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression was used as hydrogel component (1.95 mg/g). FTIR analysis confirmed the complexation of chitosan molecule with hyaluronate, chondroitin-6-sulfate, NSE. MTT-test and Trypan blue exclusion test were used to study hydrogels cytotoxicity towards human cells of different tissue origin. Biodegradability of hydrogels was evaluated using direct hydrogel contact with cells and cellindependent degradation. It was shown that chondroitin-6-sulfate (<2 mg/ml), hyaluronic acid (<2 mg/ml) and NSE (26 μg/ml) did not demonstrate significant toxic effects towards pseudonormal human cells of the MCF10A, HaCat, HEK293 lines and mouse cells of the Balb/3T3 line. The studied hydrogels were stable in saline solution, while in a complete culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine blood serum they underwent degradation in >24 h. The identified biodegradability of the chitosan-based hydrogels is important for the release of noncovalently immobilized NSE into biological medium. Further studies on laboratory animals with experimental wounds are expected to explore the potential of created hydrogels as anti-inflammatory
and wound-healing agents.
K e y w o r d s: chitosan hydrogels, chondroitin-6-sulfate, hyaluronic acid, N-stearoylethanolamine, FTIR analysis, human pseudonormal cells, toxicity, biodegradability

Introduction. A search continues for effective means which may reduce the overload of harmful factors, eliminate the inflammatory process, and reduce stress on the periodontal tissues during the active period of orthodontic treatment. We developed and patented the gel composition (GC) Benzidaflaziverdine prepared based on Proteflazid® (flavonoids) and benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) T-Sept® for the local treatment of the periodontal tissues in the form of a periodontal dressing in the orthodontic patients. 
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytocompatibility of different combinations of components in gel composition based on flavonoid complex and benzydamine hydrochloride (Benzidaflaziverdine) used for the treatment of periodontal diseases in orthodontic patients. For this, mechanisms of their cytopathic and cytoprotective effects will be explored using cultured human and mouse cells. 
Methods. We studied the effect of different supplements used in GC Benzidaflaziverdine on the viability of pseudonormal human keratinocytes of the HaCaT line and mouse fibroblasts of the BALB-3T3 line, and mouse macrophages of the J774.2 line. Various methods of cell survival assessment were used: MTT-assay, staining of cells with fluorescent dyes Hoechst 33342 and Propidium iodide (PI), as well as a test for the genotoxic effects on cells (DNA 
comet assay). The antioxidant properties of the developed GC variants were evaluated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), Merck (Dam-stadt, Germany), and DCFDA-H2 (2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate). 
Results. We demonstrated that the Sample containing gel base and BH in the form of a solution (Tantum Verde®) possessed weak prooxidant properties. While the Sample contained gel base, powdered BH (T-Sept®) and Sample containing gel base and powdered BH (T-Sept® and Proteflazid®) possessed pronounced antioxidant properties. 
Conclusions. Tests with DPPH and DCFDA dyes were used to confirm the hypothesis regarding the cytoprotective effect of the patented gel composition Benzidaflaziverdine for local application in the form of a periodontal bandage due to the antioxidant activity of the flavonoid complex, which reaches the maximum level at the 2nd hour of exposure. This gel composition can be recommended for use in clinical periodontology for medical support of  orthodontic patients before and during the active phase of orthodontic treatment.
Keywords: Flavonoid complex, Proteflazid®, benzydamine hydrochloride, gel composition, antioxidant activity, cell culture, periodontal diseases, orthodontic patients.