Effect of Addition of Antifungal Agents on Physical and Biological Properties of a Tissue Conditioner: An In-Vitro Study

Antifungal agents incorporated in denture base materials: a scoping review of the current evidence and technology prospecting

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to summarize existing data and perform technological prospecting on the effect of incorporating antifungal agents into denture base materials in inhibiting Candida spp., as well as to explore the antimicrobial properties of these materials.

METHODS

A comprehensive electronic search was carried out in six major bibliographic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Lilacs) until February 2024. In addition, international patent databases were also examined. The search process, study and patent selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were carried out independently by researchers. The collected data underwent qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 10 718 articles were identified in the searched databases, of which 40 documents were included for qualitative data analysis (articles: 31; patents: 9). The majority of the studies focused on investigating tissue conditioners (n = 14) and acrylic resins (n = 14). The primary antifungal agents studied were nystatin (n = 15) and fluconazole (n = 13). The most commonly utilized microbiological evaluation methodology was the agar diffusion test (n = 16), followed by the microdilution (n = 7) and biofilm formation assays (n = 7). All of the studies investigated the inhibitory effect of these materials against Candida species.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of antifungal agents into denture base materials has been extensively studied and has shown a significant inhibitory response against Candida spp. across various methodological assays.

A Comparative Evaluation of Antifungal and Physical Properties When Nanoparticles Are Incorporated Into the Tissue Conditioner: An In Vitro Study

Objective The objective of this in vitro study was to comparatively evaluate the antifungal and physical properties of tissue conditioner incorporated with nanoparticles (NPs) of different types and concentrations. Materials and methods A total of 198 tissue conditioner samples were used in this study. The samples were categorized into a control group, namely, tissue conditioner without NPs (Group 1), and test groups, namely, tissue conditioner incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs (Group 2) and magnesium oxide (MgO) NPs (Group 3). The antifungal properties and surface roughness of the samples were evaluated. The groups were further subdivided into seven subgroups: control (without NPs), 5% ZnO NPs, 10% ZnO NPs, 15% ZnO NPs, 3% MgO NPs, 5% MgO NPs, and 7% MgO NPs by weight. Surface roughness was measured using an optical profilometer, and antifungal activity was measured in terms of the diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ) using the well diffusion method over seven days. Results The result showed that the 5% ZnO NPs subgroup had the lowest mean surface roughness, whereas the 15% ZnO NPs subgroup had the highest antifungal activity. Increasing the concentration of NPs increased the antifungal property, and there was a steady decrease in DIZ from day one to day seven in all test groups. Conclusion Our results showed that the incorporation of various concentrations of ZnO and MgO NPs into tissue conditioner samples positively affected their physical and antifungal properties. The highest antifungal activity was found in the 15% ZnO NPs subgroup, and the lowest surface roughness was found in the 5% ZnO NPs subgroup.

Fabrication of Hollow Acrylic Vaginal Stents Using Frozen Coconut Oil for Vaginal Agenesis Management

In a rare condition known as vaginal agenesis, the uterus (womb) may develop only partially or not at all, while the vagina fails to develop altogether. It is common to diagnose vaginal agenesis, when a female does not start menstruation at puberty. This is a prenatal disorder that may also be linked to bone or kidney issues. Mullerian agenesis, Mullerian aplasia, and Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome are other names for the illness. Treatment modalities encompass surgical and nonsurgical interventions, including the utilization of prefabricated or customized vaginal stents for neovagina reconstruction and maintenance. This case report describes the development of a neovagina in a 27-year-old female diagnosed with vaginal agenesis, a characteristic of MRKH syndrome. A customized clear acrylic stent, designed to provide a resilient surface, serves as a straightforward and cost-efficient alternative for managing this condition. Significantly, it enhances patient's compliance and comfort during treatment, addressing both the physical and psychological ramifications of this congenital anomaly. This customized vaginal stent not only provides a practical solution but also contributes to enhancing the quality of life for individuals grappling with vaginal agenesis, thereby offering a promising avenue for addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with this condition.

Characterization and Physical and Biological Properties of Tissue Conditioner Incorporated with Carum copticum L

Aim

One of the main problems in dentistry is the injury caused by the long-term application of an ill-fitting denture. The existence of multiple microorganisms along with the susceptibility of the tissue conditioners to colonize them can lead to denture stomatitis. This study is aimed at developing a tissue conditioner incorporated with Carum copticum L. (C. copticum L.) for the effective treatment of these injuries.

Materials and Methods

The Carum copticum L. essential oil composition was determined by gas chromatography-mass (GC-mass) spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against the standard strains of bacterial and fungal species was determined by broth microdilution methods as suggested by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The physical and chemical properties of the prepared tissue conditioner were investigated by viscoelasticity, FTIR assays, and the release study performed. Furthermore, the antibiofilm activity of the Carum copticum L. essential oil-loaded tissue conditioner was evaluated by using the XTT reduction assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results

The main component of the essential oil is thymol, which possesses high antimicrobial activity. The broth microdilution assay showed that the essential oil has broad activity as the minimum inhibitory concentration was in the range of 32-128 μg mL^-1. The viscoelasticity test showed that the essential oil significantly diminished the viscoelastic modulus on the first day. The FTIR test showed that Carum copticum L. essential oil was preserved as an independent component in the tissue conditioner. The release study showed that the essential oil was released in 3 days following a sustained release and with an ultimate cumulative release of 81%. Finally, the Carum copticum L. essential oil exhibited significant activity in the inhibition of microbial biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. Indeed, the lowest and highest amounts of biofilm formation on the tissue conditioner disks are exhibited in the Streptococcus salivarius and Candida albicans by up to 22.4% and 71.4% at the 64 μg mL^-1 concentration of C. copticum L. with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The obtained results showed that the Carum copticum L. essential oil-loaded tissue conditioner possessed suitable physical, biological, and release properties for use as a novel treatment for denture stomatitis.

The effects of adding fluorescent carbon nanoparticles on various mechanical properties of denture liners

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of incorporating fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (FCNs) on the hardness, tear, and tensile bond strength of an acrylic-based tissue conditioner and a silicone-based soft denture liner. FCNs added to an acrylic-based tissue conditioner (Viscogel, Dentsply; Group V) and a silicone-based soft denture liner (Ufigel P, Voco; Group U) were divided into subgroups according to the concentrations (Group 0: no water, Group 1: with only water, Group 2: 0.5% FCNs, Group 3: 1% FCNs and Group 4: 10% FCNs) (n=10/per group). Shore A hardness, tear, and tensile bond strength tests were performed. Significant decreases occurred in Groups U2, U3, and U4 compared to the control groups (Groups U0 and U1) in the tear and tensile bond strength test parameters (p<0.025). However, in both types of the tested materials, there were no statistically significant differences among the shore A hardness test results (p>0.025).