Resins-based denture soft lining materials modified by chlorhexidine salt incorporation: An in vitro analysis of antifungal activity, drug release and hardness

ObjectivesTo evaluate the in vitro growth inhibition of Candida albicans, the rate of chlorhexidine release and shore A hardness from resins-based denture soft lining materials modified by chlorhexidine diacetate (CDA) or chlorhexidine hydrochloride (CHC) incorporation.MethodsResin discs were prepared from soft denture liners based on poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly (ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) containing 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt.% of CDA or CHC. For antifungal activity resin discs were placed on agar plates inoculated with C. albicans, after 48 h at 37 °C the diameters of inhibition zones were measured. For the chlorhexidine release, discs were immersed into distilled water at 37 °C, and spectral measurements were made after 48 h. Shore A hardness was evaluated at the baseline, 2 and 7 days, using 6 mm thick rectangular specimens also immersed into distilled water at 37 °C. Data were statistically processed by SigmaStat software using ANOVA and all pairwise multiple comparison procedures was done using the Holm–Sidak method, with α = 0.05 (p < 0.001).ResultsCDA added to PMMA soft liner and PEMA soft liner had a dose-related inhibitory effect on C. albicans and on chlorhexidine release rate (p < 0.001). The PMMA and PEMA hardness increased statistically by time but not for the different CDA concentrations. CHC had no inhibitory effect on C. albicans.SignificanceChlorhexidine diacetate released from resins-based soft lining materials can be convenient to reduce the biofilm development on the material surface and treat denture stomatitis, without depending on patient compliance.