Redução do biofilme de Streptococcus mutans sobre um material restaurador dentário modificado com nanopartículas de prata – estudo in vitro

Abstract

The bacterium Streptococcus mutans is one of the main initiators species of biofilm and is related to the etiology of caries. Currently there have been many studies investigating ways to reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on biomaterials, in order to prevent diseases and infections, such as the use of silver nanoparticles embedded in the materials. However, few studies have investigated the benefits of these particles in materials that are utilized within the oral cavity. The main objective of this research was to compare biofilm formation of this specie on the composite resin in its commercial form today and an experimental composite resin, which were added silver nanoparticles, which are bactericidal, using a method of counting viable cells recovered from the biofilms. Were produced cylindrical specimens of 4 mm in height and circular base of 4 mm in diameter, resin and resin with nanoparticles at three different concentrations, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.6% by mass. They were incubated in liquid medium with sucrose, containing about 108 CFU/ml, to cause bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in vitro. The count of viable cells from the samples was made after the disintegration of biofilms on them adhered in ultrasonic tank, and was performed after 1 day, 4 days and 7 days of incubation. Considering the mean and standard deviation values, the results showed that on the experimental resins with concentrations of 0.3% and 0.6% of silver nanoparticles, the number of adhered bacterial cells was lower than in resin in its commercial form today, no silver, and also smaller than the resin to 0.1% in the three incubation periods studied. The scanning electron micrograph of a biofilm of S. mutans adhered to the surface of each specimen was also performed after the same time intervals, and allowed morphological analysis of the structure of cells and cell clusters attached to surfaces. A compression test was also performed to verify if the inclusion of antibacterial nanoparticles in the resin does not affect the mechanical performance of the same. The results of this trial showed that the resin with 0.3% concentration of nanoparticle had a better mechanical properties in compression, and resin with a concentration of 0.6% worse performance, compared with the resin without silver nanoparticles, It was concluded that the composites with 0.3% silver nanoparticles are advantageous for clinical application, because it showed how a material less favorable to bacterial adhesion, without prejudice to its mechanical resistance. They may therefore benefit patients, assisting in the prevention of recurrent caries, which occur around the margins of restorations, and in the maintenance of good oral hygiene.