OBJECTIVETo investigate biological transport of tetracycline hydrochloride by human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF) for verifying the hypothesis of delivering medicine to the periodontium and whole body through the root canal.

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

RESULTSThe intracellular contents increased with incubation time. The extracellular medicine concentration had effect on the intracellular contents.

CONCLUSIONSTetracycline hydrochloride can be transported into HPDLF with incubation and this transport is time-dependent and concentration-dependent.