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Published on: July 3, 2018
Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle-Reinforced Silicone Elastomers on Candida albicans Adhesion
Sasiwimol Sanohkan1,2, Kemarajt Kemavongse3, Dinesh Rokaya4,5
1Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla, Thailand.
Objective:
Silicone elastomers are widely used in prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics for prosthetic rehabilitation. This study aimed to analyze the adhesion of Candida albicans on silicone elastomers at various concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 96 silicone elastomer specimens (N = 96) were prepared and divided into 6 groups (n = 16), incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4% by weight. 0% TiO2 nanoparticles served as a control. The specimens were submerged in artificial saliva and artificial nasal solutions. Candida albicans were incubated for 2 hours, after which the silicone specimens were rinsed to eliminate any nonadherent C. albicans. Subsequently, the stains were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and the adherence of C. albicans was calculated and compared among various groups. The results were compared using one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and multiple comparisons using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference post-hoc test. A p-value of 0.05 was considered a significant difference.
Results:
The porosity and density of silicone elastomer materials, both with and without TiO2 nanoparticles, exhibited significant differences. In the samples immersed in artificial saliva, those with 0 and 3% concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited the highest and lowest mean numbers of C. albicans, respectively. The samples immersed in artificial nasal secretion with the 0% concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited the highest number of C. albicans. The samples immersed in artificial nasal secretion with the concentrations of 4% TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited the lowest number of C. albicans.
Conclusion:
Within the limitations of this study, the incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles influenced the surface characteristics and microbial adhesion of silicone elastomers. Silicone specimens containing TiO2 nanoparticles demonstrated reduced adherence of C. albicans compared with the control group, with the 4% TiO2 concentration showing the lowest fungal colonization in both artificial saliva and artificial nasal secretion. These findings suggest that TiO2 nanoparticle incorporation may enhance the antifungal properties of silicone elastomers used in prosthodontic and maxillofacial prosthetic applications.
