Nanoparticle-encapsulated chlorhexidine against oral bacterial biofilms

• Published in: PloS one 2014-08, Vol.9 (8), p.e103234
• Main Authors: Seneviratne, Chaminda Jayampath, Leung, Ken Cham-Fai, Wong, Chi-Hin, Lee, Siu-Fung, Li, Xuan, Leung, Ping Chung, Lau, Clara Bik San, Wat, Elaine, Jin, Lijian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - drug effects; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - physiology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biology and Life Sciences; Chlorhexidine; Chlorhexidine - administration & dosage; Chlorhexidine - pharmacology; Dental Plaque - drug therapy; Dental Plaque - microbiology; Dentistry; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Encapsulation; Fusobacterium nucleatum - drug effects; Fusobacterium nucleatum - physiology; Humans; Laboratories; Morphology; Mouth - microbiology; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Oral diseases; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Porphyromonas gingivalis - drug effects; Porphyromonas gingivalis - physiology; Proteomics; Signal transduction; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Spectroscopy; Streptococcus; Streptococcus infections; Streptococcus mutans - drug effects; Streptococcus mutans - physiology; Ultraviolet absorption
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103234

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. 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. 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.