Urethane Dimethacrylate Influences the Cariogenic Properties of Streptococcus Mutans.

Kyungsun Kim,Sug-Joon Ahn,Bum-Soon Lim,Jeong Nam Kim

doi:10.3390/ma14041015

Abstract

Concerns regarding unbound monomers in dental composites have increased with the increased usage of these materials. This study assessed the biological effects of urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), a common monomer component of dental composite resins, on the cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans. Changes in the growth rate, biofilm formation, interaction with saliva, surface hydrophobicity, adhesion, glucan synthesis, sugar transport, glycolytic profiles, and oxidative- and acid-stress tolerances of S. mutans were evaluated after growing the cells in the presence and absence of UDMA. The results indicated that UDMA promotes the adhesion of S. mutans to the underlying surfaces and extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, leading to enhanced biofilm formation. Furthermore, UDMA reduced the acid tolerance of S. mutans, but enhanced its tolerance to oxidative stress, thus favoring the early stage of biofilm development. UDMA did not significantly affect the viability or planktonic growth of cells, but diminished the ability of S. mutans to metabolize carbohydrates and thus maintain the level of intracellular polysaccharides, although the tendency for sugar transport increased. Notably, UDMA did not significantly alter the interactions of bacterial cells with saliva. This study suggests that UDMA may potentially contribute to the development of secondary caries around UDMA-containing dental materials by prompting biofilm formation, enhancing oxidative tolerance, and modulating carbon flow.

Highlights

As the planktonic growth of S. mutans in a TH medium with 2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was not significantly different from that in a TH medium without 2% DMSO, 2% DMSO was used for loading urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), and 2% DMSO was used as the control for the further analyses
The present study demonstrates that leachable UDMA could significantly alter the cariogenic properties of S. mutans UA159
The results suggest that UDMA potentially contributes to secondary caries around UDMA-containing dental materials by promoting the adhesion of S. mutans to the underlying surfaces, and extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, leading to enhanced biofilm formation

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Dental plaques are generated by a complex and sophisticated community of oral microorganisms. Especially increased intake of sugars, enhance the proliferation of oral pathogens, resulting in biofilm-associated infectious diseases [1]. Streptococcus mutans is the most important bacteria responsible for dental caries because it promotes biofilm formation, aciduricity, and acidogenicity [2]

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