Researchers Develop Dentures that Prevent Oral Fungal Infections
In a study published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine in August, 2012, titled “Cytocompatible Antifungal Acrylic Resin Containing Silver Nanoparticles For Dentures,” researchers from the School of Dentistry, National Autonomus University of Mexico, found that adding silver nanoparticles to denture resins could “play a significant role in stopping the proliferation of oral Candida fungal infections in denture wearers” that lead to a condition known as dental stomatitis.
The researchers stated that “Adherence of Candida albicans to host cells or polymers, such as denture acrylic resin, is an essential and necessary first step in successful colonization and development of infection… Denture wearers are susceptible to colonization by C. albicans.” But the researchers discovered that when silver nanoparticles were added to resin denture material, the result was “…successful reduction of adherence of C. albicans.”
What’s more, the researchers discovered that “The resulting silver nanoparticles also showed good antimicrobial activity against a number of common pathogens.” They concluded that the silver nanoparticles infused denture material, “significantly reduce adherence of C. albicans,” and “They also appear not to cause genotoxic damage to cells.”
In other words, the silver nanoparticles stop the fungus from adhering to the dental material and colonizing it, without causing harm to surrounding human cells.
