Modification of denture materials with chitosan salts
Fungal infection with Candida of dentures is a common complication. The adhesion of microorganisms such as Candida is influenced by material properties such as surface charge, hydrophobicity and roughness. The formation of oral biofilms is associated with caries, periodontitis or denture stomatitis. It is therefore important to prevent the formation of biofilms, also because antifungal agents are of little help.
The polymer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used for denture fabrication due to its biocompatibility, but it is susceptible to biofilm formation. Therefore, research into strategies to endow dentures with antifungal properties is important.
Antifungal and Surface Properties of Chitosan-Salts Modified PMMA Denture Base Material
Walczak, K.; Schierz, G.; Basche, S.; Petto, C.; Boening, K.; Wieckiewicz, M. Molecules 2020, 25, 5899.
The authors from Dresden University of Technology developed a novel antifungal denture material by modifying polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with chitosan salts. The antifungal activity of chitosan hydrochloride and chitosan glutamate solutions with different concentrations (0.1; 0.3; 1 and 3%) was investigated. To prepare modified PMMA resin samples, the chitosan salts were added to PMMA before polymerization. The obtained materials were characterized with respect to their roughness by contact profilometry. A biofilm test with C. albicans was used to test the antifungal properties of the chitosan-modified resin samples. Chitosan HCl (degree of deacetylation: 85.7%, chloride: 16%) and chitosan glutamate (degree of deacetylation: 91.4%) from Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH were used for the study.
Results
- Chitosan glutamate and chitosan HCl solutions have antifungal activity and inhibit the growth of C. albicans depending on the concentration.
- no significant reduction of biofilm formation on PMMA resin modified with chitosan salts
- increase in the surface roughness of the test specimens modified with chitosan salts
Conclusion: The study showed that the antifungal effect of chitosan glutamate and chitosan HCl in solution was not transferable to the modified PMMA resin. Improvement of antifungal properties of PMMA prosthetic material is not successful with this strategy.
dental implant, Chitosan HCl, chitosan glutamate, antifungal