Figure 4.

Chlorhexidine in free and immobilized form activity against fungal biofilm formation on the surface of dental filling.

Notes: Reduction of biofilm mass (A) and cell viability (B, C) after addition of CHX and MNP@CHX at 20 μg/mL. Panels (E and F) represent effective restriction of biofilm formation during 72 h on the surface of dental fillings after addition of chlorhexidine and MNP@CHX at 20 μg/mL compared to control (D). X-ray microtomography 3D images and cross sections of dental fillings with mature fungal biofilm before (G) and after treatment by chlorhexidine (H) and MNP@CHX (I) at 20 μg/mL. *Statistically significant (P≤0.05) activity tested agents compared to untreated control (CT). **Statistically significant (P≤0.05) activity of magnetic nanoparticles coated by chlorhexidine compared to nonimmobilized drugs. Red color indicates dental filling; green color shows the presence of fungal biofilm. The “A”s, arrows, and line segments indicate the place of cutting of material (technical drawing); the “A–A”s indicate cross-section of material.

Abbreviations: CFU, colony forming units; CHX, chlorhexidine; MNP@CHX, magnetic nanoparticles functionalized by chlorhexidine.