Effects of the association of antifungal drugs on the antimicrobial action of endodontic sealers

This in vitro study aimed to determine the susceptibility of oral specimens and ATCC lineages of Candida albicans for five endodontic sealers, which were pure and associated with two antifungal drugs, and to analyze their effect on the physical properties. For this purpose, 30 lineages of C. albicans, collected from the oral cavity of patients assisted at the endodontics clinic of the Universidade Sagrado Coração, were analyzed. Yeasts susceptibility to the sealers was tested by diffusion on agar plates. Physical properties were evaluated according to the ADA specification no. 57. The pure versions of the Sealer 26, AH Plus, Endofill, Fillapex, and Sealapex demonstrated antifungal activity, with Endofill presenting the greatest inhibition zones. All cements, except for Endofill, had their antifungal actions enhanced by addition of ketoconazole and fluconazole (p < 0.05), and the AH Plus presented the best antifungal activity. The addition of antifungal drugs did not interfere with the setting time and flowability of the sealers. It was concluded that the addition of antifungals to endodontic sealers enhanced the antimicrobial action of most cements tested without altering their physical properties.

Study of Fluconazole Release from O/W Cream and Water Soluble Ointment Bases.

Aims: Study the release of fluconazole from different O/W creams and PEG ointments. Study Design: In this study, different formulations were prepared with changing one of the added excipients and study the effect of this change on the drug release and then the selected formulations were subjected to antifungal activity study. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, between December 2011 and March 2012. Methodology: O/W creams were prepared with changing either fatty alcohol type or the concentration of the added emulsifying agent. Also, the PEG ointments were prepared with changing the type of the liquid PEG (low molecular weight). Then, the viscosity and the fluconazole release from the prepared formulations were studied. Results: Changing the fatty alcohol type from stearyl to cetostearyl and cetyl alcohol in the O/W creams caused an increase in the viscosity and a decrease in the drug release. Also, changing the liquid PEG from PEG 400 to PEG 600 resulted in an increase in the formulation viscosity and subsequent decrease in the drug release. Both F1 and F6 showed a good inhibition to the fungal growth against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophyte using cup plate method, also PEG base showed a slight fungal growth inhibition. Conclusion: Results obtained showed that the PEG ointment formulations exhibited higher fluconazole release after three hours over the O/W cream formulations. Also, the nature of the PEG base may be adjunctive to the efficacy of the antifungal agent.

Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) absorption and releasing of nystatin and fluconazole / Absorção e liberação de nistatina e fluconazol por polimetilmetacrilato

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify if there are poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) absorptionand releasing of nystatin (NYS) and fluconazole (FLZ) after simulated treatment of oral candidosis. Materialsand methods: Specimens (30 × 25 × 5 mm) prepared with PMMA polymerized by hot water bath or microwaveenergy were immersed into NYS (3.12 μg/mL), FLZ (2.56 μg/mL) or deionized water (control) during14 days at 35 ± 2 °C. After treatment simulation, specimens were immersed into distilled water during 3, 7, 10and 14 days. The immersion liquid was changed after each analysis. Higher performance liquid chromatographywas used in order to detect antifungal compounds. In order to determine if there was surface depositionof drugs on PMMA resin, specimens were analyzed with electronic microscopy (SEM). Results: None of theantifungal agents was released from the PMMA resins. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, itcould be concluded that PMMA resins had no drug absorption with posterior release.

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se o poli (metil metacrilato) (PMMA) é capaz de absorver e liberar nistatina (NYS) e fluconazol (FLZ) após simular um tratamento para candidose oral. Materiais e métodos:Espécimes (30 × 25 × 5 mm) foram preparados em resina de PMMA por banho de água quente ou energia demicro-ondas e, em seguida, imersos em solução contendo NYS (3.12 μg/mL), FLZ (2.56 μg/mL) ou água deionizada(controle) durante 14 dias a 35 ± 2 °C. Após a simulação de tratamento, os espécimes foram imersos em água destilada durante 3, 7, 10 e 14 dias. O líquido de imersão foi trocado após cada análise. Cromatografia líquida de alta performance foi utilizada para detectar a presença dos agentes antifúngicos. Para determinar se houve deposição dos agentes antifúngicos na superfície de PMMA, os espécimes foram analisados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura(MEV). Resultados: Não houve liberação de agentes antifúngicos dos espécimes. Conclusão: Considerando as limitações deste estudo, pode-se concluir que a resina de PMMA não absorve ou libera agentes antifúngicos.

Effects of nystatin, fluconazole and propolis on poly (methyl methacrylate) resin surface

The prevalence of candidosis in denture wearers is as well established as its treatment with antifungal agents (AAs). However, little research has been done regarding the effects of AAs on denture base surfaces. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluconazole (FLU), nystatin (NYS) and propolis orabase gel (PRO) on poly (methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces. Deionized water and orabase gel without any active component were used as control groups. Conventional heat-polymerized (Clássico) and microwave-polymerized (Onda Cryl) acrylic resins were used. After polymerization, the specimens were polished and had their surfaces evaluated for roughness, free energy and Knoop hardness. Subsequently, specimens were immersed in AAs and controls for 14 days at 35±2 °C and all variables were measured again. Data were analyzed statistically by 2-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test ( α=0.05). Roughness results showed similar behavior for both PMMA resins, with PRO reaching the highest values and differing significantly from the other AAs (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were found between the two PMMA resins or between NYS and FLU as regards surface free energy. In conclusion, PRO was able to induce changes in PMMA surface properties, such as roughness, which could be related to microbial adhesion.

A alta prevalência da candidose em usuários de prótese dental removível e a sua terapêutica com agentes antifúngicos (AA) está estabelecida. Contudo, o efeito dos AA sobre a superfície da resina de poli(metil-metacrilato) (PMMA) ainda não foi estudada. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do fluconazol (FLU), nistatina (NYS) e gel orabase de própolis (GO) sobre a superfície de PMMA. Água deionizada e GO sem princípio ativo foram utilizadas como controles. Espécimes fabricados com PMMA polimerizada em banho de água ou com energia de microondas receberam acabamento e polimento e tiveram a rugosidade de superfície (RS), energia livre de superfície (ELS) e dureza Knoop (DK) mensuradas. Os tratamentos de superfície foram obtidos pela imersão dos espécimes nos AA durante 14 dias. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados por ANOVA para dois fatores e para a comparação, entre tratamentos e resinas, o teste de Tukey (α=0,05) foi utilizado. Os resultados mostraram que ambas as resinas aumentaram RS e ELS, mas não diferiram entre si (p>0,05). Os grupos tratados com própolis mostraram valores maiores de RS e diferente dos demais AAs (p<0,05). Com relação a rugosidade e energia livre de superfície não foram encontradas diferenças entre as PMMAs e entre FLU e NYS. Concluiu-se que a própolis induziu modificações na superfície de PMMA aumentando a rugosidade, fator que poderá facilitar a adesão de microrganismos.