Effect of oral moisturizers containing chitosan and poloxamer 407 on biofilm formation of Candida species and Streptococcus mutans: in vitro

Abstract

Oral moisturizers are topical agents which can directly relieve xerostomia and hyposalivation. This study evaluated the effects of three newly developed oral moisturizers (1) a formulation containing 0.5% chitosan (CHI) with 15% poloxamer 407 (P407), (2) a formulation containing only 0.5% CHI, and (3) a formulation containing only 15% P407, on adhesion and biofilm formation of three Candida strains, i.e., Candida albicans DMST 5815, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis from clinical isolates and Streptococcous mutans DMST 18777, compared with a commercially available oral moisturizer by using crystal violet assay. The results showed, in contrast to the commercial oral moisturizer, a significant reduction of Candida species and S. mutans adhesion and biofilm formation after exposure to the three formulations (P < 0.05). The formulation containing CHI with P407 exhibited the strongest anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm properties against Candida species. At the same time, these combinations of CHI with P407 formulation may not be good for against S. mutans adhesion and biofilm. In contrast, the formulation containing only CHI displayed strikingly stronger anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm effects against S. mutans than the CHI with P407 formulation. This evidence confirms the great potential of anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm properties of CHI against Candida species and S. mutans.

Keywords

• oral moisturizer
• chitosan
• poloxamer 407
• candida species
• streptococcus mutans