Synergistic antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy and chitosan on the titanium-adherent biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An in vitro study.

Abstract

To date, no studies on the combined use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chitosan against peri-implantitis have been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible synergistic antimicrobial effect of PDT and chitosan on the titanium-adherent biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A total of 60 titanium discs were included in this study. The discs were randomized into three bacterial contaminations (n=20 discs per bacterium). After being cultured (incubated for 48hours) they were randomized again into four different disinfection modalities (n=5 discs per treatment): control (without treatment), PDT, chitosan 3mg/mL, and PDT + chitosan 3mg/mL. After the treatments, the colony forming units (CFU) were measured to determine antimicrobial effects, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to study cell morphology and titanium adherence. For all the evaluated bacteria and all the variables studied the order from highest to lowest antimicrobial effectiveness was: PDT + chitosan 3mg/mL>chitosan 3mg/mL>PDT>control. Although, all disinfection methods were significantly effective when compared to control, the combined treatment of PDT + chitosan 3mg/mL had the greatest antimicrobial effect against the three studied bacteria. The combination of PDT and chitosan has a synergistic antimicrobial effect against the bacteria S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, all closely related to peri-implantitis. However, further in vivo studies are needed because this study provides data based on an in vitro scenario that might not be extrapolated to patients with peri-implantitis.