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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Oral Biofilm Formation on Different Materials for Dental Implants
Published on: June 24, 2018
Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm on implant material is reduced by a covalently linked thiophenone
Anne Aamdal Scheie1, Elahe Jafari Chamgordani2, Ali-Oddin Naemi1
1Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Aims:
The present aims were firstly to coat metal implant material with a quorum sensing inhibitory thiophenone molecule, and secondly to assess the inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm accumulation on thiophenone-coated coupons.
Method And Results:
Thiophenone- and control-coated metal coupons were prepared by silane hydrolysis and dip coating. The linking of thiophenone to the surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Biofilm by Staph. epidermidis, a frequent cause of implant-associated infections, was allowed to form under flowing conditions for 48 h. The biofilm accumulations were significantly reduced on the thiophenone-coated coupons. This was confirmed by confocal scanning microscopy.
Conclusion:
This study showed for the first time how a synthetic thiophenone may be covalently linked to a stainless steel surface, and that biofilm accumulations on such surfaces are significantly reduced.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Functionalizing surfaces by covalent linking of thiophenones might open a wide array of applications. Thiophenone coating of medical implants represents a novel and promising approach to prevent implant-associated infections.

