Abstract
Background:
Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a widely used antimicrobial agent in dentistry. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel mesoporous silica nanoparticle-encapsulated pure CHX (Nano-CHX), and its mechanical profile and antimicrobial properties against oral biofilms.
Methodology/principal findings:
The release of CHX from the Nano-CHX was characterized by UV/visible absorption spectroscopy. The antimicrobial properties of Nano-CHX were evaluated in both planktonic and biofilm modes of representative oral pathogenic bacteria. The Nano-CHX demonstrated potent antibacterial effects on planktonic bacteria and mono-species biofilms at the concentrations of 50-200 µg/mL against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Enterococccus faecalis. Moreover, Nano-CHX effectively suppressed multi-species biofilms such as S. mutans, F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis up to 72 h.
Conclusions/significance:
This pioneering study demonstrates the potent antibacterial effects of the Nano-CHX on oral biofilms, and it may be developed as a novel and promising anti-biofilm agent for clinical use.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / drug effects
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Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / physiology
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
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Anti-Infective Agents, Local / administration & dosage*
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Anti-Infective Agents, Local / pharmacology
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Bacteria / drug effects
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Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / drug effects*
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Biofilms / drug effects*
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Chlorhexidine / administration & dosage*
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Chlorhexidine / pharmacology
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Dental Plaque / drug therapy
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Dental Plaque / microbiology
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Drug Carriers / chemistry*
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Fusobacterium nucleatum / drug effects
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Fusobacterium nucleatum / physiology
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Humans
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Mouth / microbiology*
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Nanoparticles / chemistry*
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Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
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Porphyromonas gingivalis / drug effects
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Porphyromonas gingivalis / physiology
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Streptococcus mutans / drug effects
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Streptococcus mutans / physiology
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Anti-Infective Agents, Local
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Drug Carriers
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Chlorhexidine
Grants and funding
This study has been supported by the General Research Fund (GRF) from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (HKU767512M and 768713M) and the Modern Dental Laboratory/HKU Endowment Fund to LJJ. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.