CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
Anaerobe. 2013 Apr;20:27-31. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2013.02.002. Epub 2013 Feb 27.
The main aim of this work was to access the potential use of high and low molecular weight chitosans as potential oral antimicrobials, particularly as antibiofilm agents. Chitosan's interference with Streptococcus mutans capability to adhere and form biofilms was assessed. Additionally the effect upon mature and polymicrobial biofilms was also evaluated. The results obtained showed that chitosan was capable of interfering with S. mutans adhesion and primary biofilm formation. This action was observed up to a week with little to none decrease in efficiency. In addition chitosan was capable of inhibiting biofilms formed by two microorganisms and was capable of acting upon mature biofilms leading to significant reductions (94%) in biofilm survival. However clear statistical differences (p < 0.05) were registered in all assays with, in most assays, HMw chitosan presenting higher efficiency than LMw chitosan. Considering this results chitosan's potential as a valid alternative to traditional antimicrobials in oral health it's evident.
本工作的主要目的是评估高低分子量壳聚糖作为潜在口服抗菌剂、特别是抗生物膜剂的可能性。评估了壳聚糖对变异链球菌黏附和形成生物膜能力的干扰作用。还评估了其对成熟和多微生物生物膜的影响。结果表明，壳聚糖能够干扰变形链球菌的黏附和初始生物膜形成。这种作用可以观察到一周，且效率几乎没有下降。此外，壳聚糖能够抑制由两种微生物形成的生物膜，并且能够作用于成熟生物膜，导致生物膜存活量显著减少（94%）。然而，在所有试验中均记录到了明显的统计学差异（p<0.05），在大多数试验中，高分子量壳聚糖比低分子量壳聚糖的效率更高。考虑到这些结果，壳聚糖作为口腔健康中传统抗菌剂的有效替代品的潜力是显而易见的。
