Evaluation of Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm Formation Inhibition and Removal by Use of HybenX

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial capacity and efficacy in disaggregation, elimination, and inhibition of biofilm formation of HybenX.

To develop a biofilm elimination model, dentin of radicular human teeth was incubated with E. faecalis American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 29212 at 37°C with nutritional restriction for 14 days. After incubation, the samples were treated for 1 minute with HybenX, and as controls, chlorhexidine 2%, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 17%, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 5.25% were used. In the inhibition model, samples were pretreated with treatments and incubated. The presence or absence of microorganisms in the dentin was verified using scanning electron microscopy, and bacterial viability and biovolume were determined by confocal laser microscopy with live/dead staining. The 3D images were analysed using IMARIS 8.0 (Oxford Instruments Group, United Kingdom) software. All experiments were performed in triplicate as independent experiments and compared using ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test at a significance level of P < .05.

Biofilm removal and inhibition of formation were observed after HybenX treatment. HybenX showed a significant disaggregation and elimination of biofilm (P < .001), drastically affecting the biovolume, surpassed by NaOCl, which presented a total elimination; it also demonstrated a low bactericidal effect, allowing bacterial viability of 79%. Likewise, it showed a high capacity to inhibit the formation of biofilm, allowing a minimum biovolume similar to NaOCl (P = .01). HybenX eliminates and inhibits biofilm formation; however, it allows the persistence of viable bacteria.

HybenX effectively eliminates and inhibits biofilm formation; however, it does not prevent the persistence of viable bacteria.