Antibacterial effects of MDPB against anaerobes associated with endodontic infections.

Aim: To investigate the antibacterial effects of 12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB), an antibacterial monomer synthesized by combining quaternary ammonium with a methacryloyl group, against three anaerobes associated with endodontic infections using planktonic and biofilm cells.

Methodology: The antibacterial activity of unpolymerized MDPB against Enterococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella nigrescens was examined by agar-disc diffusion tests and determination of the minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBC). Rapid killing effects of MDPB against three bacteria in planktonic form were examined by a cell number counting method, and those against biofilm cells were assessed by a viability staining method.

Results: MDPB demonstrated inhibition against all of the bacteria tested by agar-disc diffusion tests. The MIC/MBC values of MDPB for the three anaerobes were much smaller than those of other resin monomers, although greater compared with those of cetylpyridinium chloride or chlorhexidine diacetate for E. faecalis and F. nucleatum. Significant reduction in viable planktonic cells was obtained by contact with 250 microg mL(-1) of MDPB for 20 s (P < 0.05, Fisher's PLSD tests), and 40 s contact with 500 microg mL(-1) or 20 s contact with 1000 microg mL(-1) of MDPB resulted in more than 90% killing. Biofilm cells of all species were completely killed by application of 1000 microg mL(-1) of MDPB for 60 s.

Conclusion: MDPB was found to have strong antibacterial effects against E. faecalis, F. nucleatum and P. nigrescens, and such effects were rapidly exhibited even against biofilm cells, suggesting the usefulness of application of MDPB to resin-based materials for root canal filling.