Ceria-Incorporated Biopolymer for Preventing Fungal Adhesion.

Although biopolymers are widely used in biomedical fields, the issue of poor antimicrobial properties remains unsolved, leading to a potential increase in infections. Here, ceria nanoparticles (CNPs) were incorporated into a representative biopolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), for drug-free antimicrobial properties. After characterizing the CNPs and surface/mechanical properties of the CNP-PMMA nanocomposite, antiadhesive effects against Candida albicans, the most common fungal species responsible for fungal infections, were determined using metabolic activity assays, and the underlying microbial antiadhesive mechanism was revealed. Hydrothermally fabricated CNPs showed a size of ∼20 nm with a zeta potential of 12 ± 2.3 mV and showed catalytic properties as a ROS modulator. Successful incorporation of CNPs into PMMA up to 2 wt % was confirmed by EDS analysis. The surface roughness and mechanical properties such as flexural strength and modulus were relatively unchanged up to 2 wt %. In contrast, the surface energy increased, and the Vickers hardness decreased in the 2 wt % PMMA compared with the control. A drop of up to 90% of adherent Candida albicans was observed in CNP-incorporated PMMA, which was confirmed and quantified via fungus staining images. The antiadhesive mechanism was revealed from the direct antimicrobial effects of CNP via the upregulation of the intracellular ROS level. Taken together, the antimicrobial-adhesive properties of the CNP-PMMA nanocomposite suggest the potential usefulness of CNP as a promising drug-free antimicrobial ingredient for biopolymers, which could lead to the prevention of microbial-induced complications in clinical settings.

Nano-graphene oxide incorporated into PMMA resin to prevent microbial adhesion.

OBJECTIVE: Although polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used as a dental material, a major challenge of using this substance is its poor antimicrobial (anti-adhesion) effects, which increase oral infections. Here, graphene-oxide nanosheets (nGO) were incorporated into PMMA to introduce sustained antimicrobial-adhesive effects by increasing the hydrophilicity of PMMA. METHODS: After characterizing nGO and nGO-incorporated PMMA (up to 2wt%) in terms of morphology and surface characteristics, 3-point flexural strength and hardness were evaluated. The anti-adhesive effects were determined for 4 different microbial species with experimental specimens and the underlying anti-adhesive mechanism was investigated by a non-thermal oxygen plasma treatment. Sustained antimicrobial-adhesive effects were characterized with incubation in artificial saliva for up to 28 days. RESULTS: The typical nanosheet morphology was observed for nGO. Incorporating nGO into PMMA roughened its surface and increased its hydrophilicity without compromising flexural strength or surface hardness. An anti-adhesive effect after 1h of exposure to microbial species in artificial saliva was observed in nGO-incorporated specimens, which accelerated with increasing levels of nGO without significant cytotoxicity to oral keratinocytes. Plasma treatment of native PMMA demonstrated that the antimicrobial-adhesive effects of nGO incorporation were at least partially due to increased hydrophilicity, not changes in the surface roughness. A sustained antimicrobial-adhesive property against Candida albicans was observed in 2% nGO for up to 28 days. SIGNIFICANCE: The presence of sustained anti-adhesion properties in nGO-incorporated PMMA without loading any antimicrobial drugs suggests the potential usefulness of this compound as a promising antimicrobial dental material for dentures, orthodontic devices and provisional restorative materials.

Rechargeable microbial anti-adhesive polymethyl methacrylate incorporating silver sulfadiazine-loaded mesoporous silica nanocarriers.

OBJECTIVES: Even though polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin is widely used as a dental material, it has poor microbial anti-adhesive properties, which accelerates oral infections. In this investigation, silver-sulfadiazine (AgSD)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ag-MSNs) were incorporated into PMMA to introduce long-term microbial anti-adhesive effects and to make PMMA a rechargeable resin. METHODS: After characterization of the Ag-MSNs in terms of their mesoporous characteristics and drug loading capacity, the 3 point flexural test and hardness were evaluated in PMMA incorporating Ag-MSNs (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5%). Anti-adhesive effects were observed for Candida albicans and Streptococcus oralis with experimental specimens for up to 28days and after recharging with AgSD. RESULTS: A typical spherical morphology and high mesoporosity were observed for the MSNs used for loading AgSD. Incorporation of Ag-MSNs into PMMA (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5%) sustained its flexural strength but increased its surface hardness. Anti-adhesive effects were observed after 1h of exposure to both microbial species, and the effects accelerated with increasing Ag-MSN incorporation into PMMA. Long-term microbial anti-adhesive effects were observed for up to 14 days, and further long-term (7 days) anti-adhesive effects were observed after reloading the Ag-MSN-incorporated PMMA (aged for 28 days) with AgSD; these effects were largely caused by released silver ions and partially by changes in surface hydrophilicity. No cytotoxicity to keratinocytes was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The improved mechanical properties and the prolonged microbial anti-adhesive effects, which lasted after reloading of the drug, suggest the potential usefulness of Ag-MSN-incorporated PMMA as a microbial anti-adhesive dental material. SIGNIFICANCE: Ag-MSN-incorporated PMMA can be used as a microbial anti-adhesive dental material for dentures, orthodontic devices and provisional restorative materials.

Development of long-term antimicrobial poly(methyl methacrylate) by incorporating mesoporous silica nanocarriers.

OBJECTIVE: Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) used as removable denture bases or orthodontic appliances has relatively poor antimicrobial properties, which accelerate oral infection and induce unfavorable odors. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been highlighted as a potential additive to overcome this issue because of their drug-loading capacity. Here, we present the long-term antimicrobial effect of MSN-incorporated PMMA with drug-loading capacity. METHODS: After the MSNs were characterized, MSN incorporation into chemically activated PMMA (0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5wt%) relative to the methyl methacrylate powder by mass was fabricated into a rectangular specimen (1.4×3.0×19.0mm) for a 3-point flexural test at a speed of 1mm/min or a disk (∅=11.5mm and d=1.5mm) for investigation of its antimicrobial effects. RESULTS: A typical spherical morphology with a well-ordered mesoporous structure of the MSNs was visualized and is beneficial for loading drugs and combining in matrixes. Among the tested levels of MSN incorporation in PMMA (0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5wt%), only 5wt% decreased the flexural strength (p<0.05), whereas the flexural modulus was not significantly decreased (p>0.05). The surface roughness and surface energy were increased with 2.5wt% or 5wt% incorporation. An anti-adherent effect against Candida albicans and Streptococcus oralis after 1h of attachment was only observed with 2.5 and 5wt% incorporation compared to a lack of MSNs (p<0.05). A long-term antimicrobial effect was observed for 2 weeks with 2.5wt% MSN-incorporated PMMA when amphotericin B was loaded into the MSNs on the PMMA surface. SIGNIFICANCE: The long-term antimicrobial performance after loading amphotericin B into the MSN-incorporated PMMA suggests the potential clinical usefulness of MSN-incorporated PMMA resin.