Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of the antifungal properties of tissue conditioner incorporated with essential oils-loaded chitosan nanoparticles

• Published in: PloS one 2022-08, Vol.17 (8), p.e0273079-e0273079
• Main Authors: Ashraf, Hina, Gul, Hashmat, Jamil, Bushra, Saeed, Asfia, Pasha, Mehwish, Kaleem, Muhammad, Khan, Abdul Samad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Antifungal activity; Antifungal agents; Antimicrobial agents; Biodegradable materials; Biological analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Chitin; Chitosan; Complications and side effects; Deionization; Dental materials; Dentures; Drug delivery systems; Engineering and Technology; Essences and essential oils; Essential oils; Formulations; Fungicides; Hardness; Health aspects; Kinetics; Laboratories; Medicine and Health Sciences; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Nanoparticles; Oils & fats; Oregano; Patient outcomes; Prostheses; Research and Analysis Methods; Saliva; Samples; Statistical analysis; Stomatitis; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273079

This study aims to investigate new tissue conditioner (TC) formulations involving chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and essential oils (EO) for their antifungal potential, release kinetics, and hardness. CSNPs were synthesized, and the separate solutions of CSNP were prepared with two types of EO, i.e., Oregano oil and Lemongrass. The EO was loaded separately in two concentrations (200 [mu]L and 250 [mu]L). The blank and EO-loaded CSNPs were screened against Candida albicans (C. albicans), and their minimum inhibitory concentration was established. GC Reline.sup.[TM] (GC corporation, USA) TC was considered a control group, whereby the four experimental groups were prepared by mixing CSNPs/EO solutions with TC powder. The antifungal effectiveness (C. albicans) and release kinetics behavior (1-6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h) was investigated. The Shore A hardness of control and experimental groups was evaluated in dry and wet modes (deionized water and artificial saliva). For statistical analysis, SPSS version 22 was used to do a one-way ANOVA post-hoc Tukey's test. Compared to the control group, TCs containing blank CSNPs and CSNPs loaded with EO showed 3 and 5 log reductions in C. albicans growth, respectively. A significantly high antifungal effect was observed with TC containing lemongrass essential oil (200 [mu]L). The continuous release of EO was detected for the first 6 hours, whereas completely stopped after 48 hours. Mean hardness values were highest for dry samples and lowest for samples stored in artificial saliva. The statistically significant difference within and between the study groups was observed in mean and cumulative essential oils release and hardness values of TCs over observed time intervals irrespective of storage media. TCs containing essential-oil-loaded CSNPs seem a promising alternative treatment of denture-induced stomatitis, however, a further biological analysis should be taken.