title: Influence of surface free energy of denture base and liner materials on Candida albicans biofilms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the influence of surface free energy (SFE) of denture base and liner materials on Candida albicans biofilm development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discs were fabricated using poly(methyl methacrylate) acrylic resin and poly(ethyl methacrylate) denture liner, according to the manufacturers' instructions. For SFE test, discs were pellicle-coated with saliva alone, saliva + blood plasma, or blood plasma alone. Candida albicans biofilms were allowed to form on pellicle-coated discs for 48 h. Biofilms were evaluated for cell counts, metabolic activity, and structural characteristics at adhesion phase (after 1.5 h of development) and at biofilm maturity (after 48 h of development). Data were analyzed by anova and Tukey tests using a significance level of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Saliva + blood plasma pellicles had a higher SFE compared to pellicles of saliva or blood plasma alone (P < 0.001). Differences in SFE by pellicle-coating did not affect the cell counts, metabolic activity, or structure at the adhesion phase (P > 0.05). In contrast, the presence of blood plasma resulted in higher cell counts, biovolume, and thickness of mature biofilms on both materials (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increases in SFE from pellicle-coating leads to robust mature C. albicans biofilms on both denture materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wander J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Cristiane Maria B
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Flávia C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Viu
authors.forename: Letícia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Célia Marisa R
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Altair A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Del Bel Cury
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D044622:Dental Pellicle / Q000382:microbiology; D003819:Denture Bases / Q000382:microbiology*; D003822:Denture Liners / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010949:Plasma; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013500:Surface Tension
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; C009931:poly(ethylmethacrylate); D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: Candida albicans; acrylic resins; biofilms; surface properties