ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for the specific control of oral biofilms. However, its effects on maxillofacial prostheses have been barely explored. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial effect of PDT using methylene blue (MB) and laser against a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm developed on the surface of scleral acrylic resin. METHODS: Sixty-six specimens of acrylic resin designed for ocular prostheses were fabricated in a disk-shaped format (3 × 10 mm). S. aureus biofilm was grown on the surface of the specimens for 24 h and the disks were then treated with MB at different concentrations (25, 50, 75 or 100 µg/mL), with or without PDT (GaAlAs diode laser; 660 nm; 100 mW; 9 J; 321.4 J.cm-2; 3.5 W.cm-2 and 90 s). Control groups were treated with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) or phosphate buffered saline. After the treatments, colony forming units (CFU) were counted and the samples were qualitatively evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were analyzed descriptively and by nested ANOVA and the Tukey test (α = .05). RESULTS: PDT groups with MB concentrations at 75 and 100 µg/mL formed fewer CFU compared to the other groups (P < 0.001) and the 2% CHX group did not form any CFU. SEM images revealed that the surface of the polymers in these groups did not show bacterial colonies. CONCLUSIONS: PDT significantly reduced S. aureus biofilm in the scleral acrylic resin when associated with an MB dilution of 75 µg/mL or higher. Thus, PDT can be a promising candidate for disinfecting ocular prostheses.
