Effect of Polymer Degree of Conversion on Streptococcus mutans Biofilms

Alison M. Kraigsley, Kathy Tang, Katrice A. Lippa, John A. Howarter, Sheng Lin-Gibson, Nancy J. Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biofilm-material interactions are increasingly recognized as critical to success of some materials/devices and failure of others. We use a model system of dental monomers, salivary pellicles, and oral biofilms to demonstrate for the first time that degree of conversion of cross-linked dimethacrylate polymers alters biofilm metabolic activity. This response is due primarily to leachable release (not surface chemistry) and is complex, with no changes in some biofilm measurements (i.e., biomass), and time- and leachable-dependent responses in others (i.e., metabolic activity). These results highlight the need for considering biofilm-material interactions when designing/evaluating new materials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1706-1713
Number of pages8
JournalMacromolecular Bioscience
Volume12
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bacterial biofilms
  • Degree of polymerization (DP)
  • Dental polymers
  • Leachables
  • Photopolymerization

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