Acrylic Denture Impregnated with Organo-Selenium Inhibited Candida Albicans Biofilm Growth

Objectives: Denture stomatitis, an inflammatory infection that commonly affects the oral mucosa of maxillary denture wearers, has been associated with Candida albicans biofilms on denture surfaces. This study investigated the potential of organo-selenium to inhibit the formation of Candida albicans biofilm on the surface of acrylic denture base materials, when either incorporated into the acrylic denture material or coated on denture surface as light-cured surface sealant.
Methods: Sixty acrylic disc were fabricated to fit into four experimental groups (15/group); discs coated with light-cured organo-selenium surface sealant (DenteShield™ surface sealant) (A), discs impregnated with 0.5% (B) or 1% (C) organo-selenium, and discs without organo-selenium (Control) (C). Candida albicans biofilm was grown on each disc placed in a well of the microtiter plate containing 1 mL Brain Heart Infusion Broth inoculated with C. albicans. The plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 48h. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope was used to determine the biofilm thickness, biomass and live/dead cell ratio. Biofilm morphology was examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), while microbial viability (CFU/ml) was quantified by spread plate method. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons.
Results: Microbial viability, biofilm thickness, biofilm biomass and live/dead cell ratio were significantly (p<0.0001) lower in biofilm grown on discs in groups A, B and C, with these variables being lowest in groups B and C. Groups B and C did not differ significantly from each other in all the variables except biomass, which was significantly lower in group C than B. SEM showed inhibition of both biofilm growth and yeast to hyphae transition in groups A, B and C with disruption of the biofilm morphology.
Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that organo-selenium incorporated into or coated on the surface of acrylic denture base material has the potential to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm growth on denture surfaces.