2-methacryloyloxyethyl-phosphorylcholine (MPC)-polymer Suppresses the Adherence of Oral Bacteria

Objectives: 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-polymer, which mimics human cell membrane, reduces protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion, and inhibits cell-cell attachment. We previously reported that MPC-polymer treatment markedly inhibited both the adhesion and biofilm formation of oral bacteria. However, the in vivo effect of MPC-polymer in human oral cavity is still unclear. We, hence, performed a clinical trial of MPC-polymer in the human oral cavity. We also investigated the number of Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is the key bacteria forming dental plaque, in clinical samples.
Methods: Gargle solution containing 5% MPC-polymer was used in 20 healthy subjects. We evaluated the number of oral bacteria before intervention (gargling with 5% MPC-polymer solution) and 5 h after the intervention. PBS was used as a control. The number of bacteria was counted by a culture method on the sheep blood agar and a bacterial counter (Panasonic healthcare, Japan), and DNA amounts of total bacteria and F. nucleatum were examined by q-PCR.
Results: The fold increase of total bacteria during 5 hours after 5% MPC-polymer treatment significantly decreased, compared to the control group. Moreover, the DNA amounts of total bacteria and F. nucleatum significantly decreased by 5% MPC-polymer mouthwash.
Conclusions: We suggest that MPC-polymer coating in the oral cavity may suppress the oral bacterial adherence. MPC-polymer can be a potent compound for the control of oral microflora to prevent oral infection.