Glass ionomer cement modified by a imidazolium salt: adding antifungal properties to a biomaterial

We present the structural modification of a commercially available glass ionomer cement by inserting the imidazolium salt 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C₁₆MImCl), composing a new biomaterial with antifungal biofilm activity. Test specimens were prepared using a commercial glass ionomer cement to which 10 ppm of cetylpyridinium chloride (reference ionic antifungal agent) or C₁₆MImCl were added. The feasibility and hypoallergenicity of the new biomaterial were assessed by microhardness plastic deformation and chorioallantoic membrane assays. Colony counting and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the modified specimens' antibiofilm activity against three multidrug-resistant Candida species. The modified glass ionomer cement presented a strong antibiofilm activity against Candida spp., without losing its original micromechanical and hypoallergenic properties, rendering it a promising candidate for further application in dentistry.