Hydrogen peroxide potentiates antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in eliminating Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans dual-species biofilm from denture base.

Background: Candida albicans (C.albicans) is the primary pathogen of denture biofilm. Moreover, it could establish a cross-kingdom relationship with bacteria to enhance its virulence and resistance to antifungal drugs. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in combination with hydrogen peroxide (HO) against C.albicans and Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) dual-species biofilm formed on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) disk, and explore its involved mechanisms.

Methods: C.albicans and S.mutans were grown on PMMA disk for 48 h to form biofilm and received different treatments. The treatments included:1) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group,2) 100 mM HO group,3) aPDT group,4) aPDT+ HO and 5) HO+aPDT group. Colony forming units (CFU), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to evaluate the antimicrobial effects. Extracellular polysaccharide substance (EPS) production and observation, cell permeability of biofilm, and uptake of toluidine blue O (TBO) by biofilm were assessed to investigate the involved mechanism.

Results: There was no significant difference between PBS group and HO group in viable microorganisms and metabolic activity of biofilm. The treatment protocols containing aPDT group reduced microorganism numbers and metabolic activity when compared to PBS group or HO group (P<0.05). HO+aPDT treatment showed the highest antimicrobial efficacy in comparison with other treatments (P<0.05). Pretreatment with HO could decrease EPS production and enhance cell permeability, leading to increased TBO uptake in biofilm.

Conclusion: Pretreatment with HO improved aPDT efficiency in eliminating dual-species biofilm from PMMA disk by reducing EPS amount, enhancing cell permeability, and increasing TBO uptake.