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The impact of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in an artificial biofilm model

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Abstract

The susceptibility of bacterial cultures in biofilm formations is important for a variety of clinical treatment procedures. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the impact of laser-induced antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on the viability of Streptococcus mutans cells employing an artificial biofilm model. Using sterile chambered coverglasses, a salivary pellicle layer was formed in 40 chambers. Streptococcus mutans cells were inoculated in a sterile culture medium. Employing a live/dead bacterial viability kit, bacteria with intact cell membranes stained fluorescent green. Each pellicle-coated test chamber was filled with 0.7 ml of the bacterial suspension and analysed using a confocal laser scanning microscope within a layer of 10 μm at intervals of 1 μm from the pellicle layer. Phenothiazine chloride was used as a photosensitizer in all 40 test chambers. A diode laser (wavelength 660 nm, output power 100 mW) was used to irradiated 20 chambers for 2 min. Fluorescence values in the test chambers after laser irradiation (median 2.1 U, range 0.4–3.4 U) were significantly lower than baseline values after adding the photosensitizer (median 3.6 U, range 1.1–9.0; p < 0.05). The non-irradiated control chambers showed no change in fluorescence at the end of an additional photosensitizer residence time of 2 min without laser irradiation (median 1.9 U, range 0.7–3.6; median 1.9 U, range 0.8–6.0, respectively; p > 0.05). The present study indicated that laser irradiation is an essential part of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy to reduce bacteria within a layer of 10 μm. Further studies are needed to evaluate the maximum biofilm thickness that still allows a toxic effect on microorganisms.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Beate Schiermeyer-Dunkhase for preparing the bacterial cultures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University Dental Clinic Bonn, 53111, Bonn, Germany

    Martin Schneider, Matthias Frentzen, Felix Krause & Andreas Braun

  2. Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bonn, 53121, Bonn, Germany

    Gregor Kirfel

  3. Department of Operative Dentistry, University of Marburg, Georg-Voigt-Strasse 3, 35039, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Berthold & Andreas Braun

Authors
  1. Martin Schneider
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  2. Gregor Kirfel
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  3. Michael Berthold
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  4. Matthias Frentzen
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  5. Felix Krause
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  6. Andreas Braun
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Correspondence to Andreas Braun.

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Schneider, M., Kirfel, G., Berthold, M. et al. The impact of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in an artificial biofilm model. Lasers Med Sci 27, 615–620 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-011-0998-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-011-0998-7

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