A polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticle comprising chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was prepared (CS/CMCS-NPs) by ionic gelation, which was then used as a doxycycline carrier (Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs). The obtained CS/CMCS-NPs and Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs were characterized for various parameters and bacteriostatic ability against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The regulation of related genes and proteins of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) was characterized by qRT-PCR, western blotting and ELISA. The results showed that Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs had an orderly morphology and an excellent cytocompatibility. P. gingivalis was strongly inhibited by Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs contrasted with control group. Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs effectively down-regulated both gene and protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β in HGFs. This study provides a new method for rational application of Dox in the clinical treatment of periodontal disease and a new direction for explaining the mechanism of action of Dox:CS/CMCS-NPs and more drug-carrying nanoparticles.

通过离子凝胶法制备了包含壳聚糖（CS）和羧甲基壳聚糖（CMCS）的聚电解质复合物纳米颗粒（CS / CMCS-NPs），然后将其用作强力霉素载体（Dox：CS / CMCS-NPs）。对获得的CS / CMCS-NPs和Dox：CS / CMCS-NPs进行了表征，并对其牙龈卟啉菌的各项参数和抑菌能力进行了表征。通过qRT-PCR，western blotting和ELISA对人牙龈成纤维细胞（HGFs）中NLRP3炎性体和IL-1β相关基因和蛋白的调控进行了研究。结果表明，Dox：CS / CMCS-NPs的形态有序，具有良好的细胞相容性。牙龈卟啉单胞菌与对照组相比，其被Dox：CS / CMCS-NPs强烈抑制。Dox：CS / CMCS-NPs有效下调了HGFs中NLRP3炎性小体和IL-1β的基因和蛋白水平。这项研究为合理应用Dox在牙周疾病的临床治疗中提供了新方法，并为解释Dox：CS / CMCS-NPs和更多载药纳米颗粒的作用机理提供了新的方向。