Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of denture base resin containing silver nanoparticles (nano-silver) on Candida albicans adhesion and biofilm formation.
Background: Epidemiological studies report that approximately 70% of removable denture wearers suffer from denture stomatitis. Candida albicans adhesion and biofilm formation are regarded as essential prerequisites for denture stomatitis.
Materials and methods: The bioactivity and biomass of C. albicans biofilm, which was incubated in a series of twofold dilutions of nano-silver suspension at 37°C for 24 h, were determined using XTT reduction and crystal violet assays, respectively. The denture base resin specimens containing nano-silver were then used in C. albicans adhesion (37°C; 90 min; n = 9) and biofilm formation assays (37°C; 72 h; n = 9). Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to evaluate the architectural properties of average thickness and live/dead cell ratio in the different biofilm stages that developed on the specimens.
Results: The bioactivity and biomass of C. albicans biofilm successively decreased with increasing nano-silver solution concentration. Denture base resin containing nano-silver had no effect on adhesion at low concentrations, but it exhibited anti-adhesion activity at a high concentration (5%). For 72 h biofilm formed on the resin specimens, the thickness and live/dead cell ratio were successively reduced with increasing nano-silver concentrations.
Conclusion: Nano-silver had antifungal activity and inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation. Antifungal activity and an inhibitory effect on adhesion and biofilm formation by denture base resin containing nano-silver were discovered, especially at a higher concentration.
Keywords: Candida albicans; adhesion; biofilm; silver nanoparticle.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S and The Gerodontology Association. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.