Antifungal biomaterial for reducing infections caused by Candida albicans in edentulous patients

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) acrylic resins are used to make dentures for edentulous patients.

To find out the prevalence of Candida species in patients with and without removable prostheses from a dental clinic in León, Guanajuato, as well as to assess the antifungal effect and biological behavior of an experimental PMMA with silver nanoparticles for its possible application in prostheses.

To identify Candida species, smear samples were obtained from the palatal mucosa of 140 patients aged ≥ 60 years. The experimental PMMA with silver nnoparticles was placed in Candida albicans cultures, which were stained with the Live/Dead^® kit for analysis under confocal microscopy; subsequently, it was implanted in Wistar rats in order to know its behavior in the surrounding tissues.

Candida albicans was the most prevalent species in the evaluated patients, followed by Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. The acrylic resin with silver nanoparticles significantly decreased the presence of Candida albicans. In the animal model, a discrete and controlled inflammatory reaction was found, which indicated biocompatibility of the acrylic resin that was used.

It is possible for the nanostructured material with antifungal effect to be used in order to promote the reduction of oral Candida infections in edentulous patients.