OBJECTIVETo investigate biological transport of minocycline by human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF). To verify the hypothesis of delivering medicine to periodontium and the whole body through the root canal.

METHODSHPDLF and MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated in minocycline solutions. The intracellular antibiotics contents were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the cell total protein was measured by Bradford protein assay.

RESULTSHPLC was an accurate, sensitive method for measurement of the intracellular minocycline. The incubation time and cell property had significant effect on the intracellular minocycline contents (P< 0.01). The intracellular contents increased with extracellular concentration.

CONCLUSIONMinocycline can be transported by HPDLF. The transport is concentration-dependent, time-dependent and cell specific.