Antibacterial activity and physical properties of glass-ionomer cements containing antibiotics

This study evaluated the antibacterial effects, physical properties and bonding strengths of conventional glass-ionomer cements (GICs) containing antibiotics and determined the optimal concentration of antibiotics addition for use with the ART approach. Fuji IX GIC was used as a control. Three antibiotic mixtures, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and minocycline, were added to powdered GIC (Fuji IX) to obtain concentration ratios of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% w/w. The antibacterial activity of each GIC was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans or Lactobacillus casei using agar-diffusion methods. The release of antibiotics was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The compressive strength and bonding strength to dentin were measured and compared with those of control samples. The results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon test. All tested groups showed a significantly greater inhibition with growth of the selected bacteria in comparison to the control groups (p < 0.01). However, the 3% and 4.5% concentration ratios of antibiotics had significantly lower compressive strength and lower bond strength to dentin than the control group (p = 0.003). The GIC-containing antibiotics were effective in inhibiting S Mutans and L Casei. The addition of a 1.5% antibiotic mixture was optimal to giving appropriate physical and bonding properties.