Polyethyleneimine nanoparticles incorporated into resin composite cause cell death and trigger biofilm stress in vivo

Abstract

Incorporation of cross-linked quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine (QPEI) nanoparticles in dental resin composite has a longlasting and wide antimicrobial effect with no measured impact on biocompatibility in vitro. We hypothesized that QPEI nanoparticles incorporated into a resin composite have a potent antibacterial effect in vivo and that this stress condition triggers a suicide module in the bacterial biofilm. Ten volunteers wore a removable acrylic appliance, in which two control resin composite specimens and two resin composite specimens incorporating 1% wt∕wt QPEI nanoparticles were inserted to allow the buildup of intraoral biofilms. After 4 h, the specimens were removed and tested for bacterial vitality and biofilm thickness, using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The vitality rate in specimens incorporating QPEI was reduced by >50% (p < 0.00001), whereas biofilm thickness was increased (p < 0.05). The ability of the biofilm supernatant to restore bacterial death was tested in vitro. The in vitro tests showed a 70% decrease in viable bacteria (p < 0.05). Biofilm morphological differences were also observed in the scanning electron microscope micrographs of the resin composite versus the resin composite incorporating QPEI. These results strongly suggest that QPEI nanoparticles incorporated at a low concentration in resin composite exert a significant in vivo antibiofilm activity and exhibit a potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity against salivary bacteria.

Anti-biofilm properties of wound dressing incorporating nonrelease polycationic antimicrobials

“…The dental technician participating in this trial consistently reported a highly offensive odor when removing the inner aspect of the surgical obturator in the sessions that included QPEI-absent liner. These results are coincident with our previous clinical findings showing that QPEI compounds are highly potent antibacterial agents [20]. Taken together, these results suggest that QPEI nanoparticles offer the potential to prevent contamination in orofacial cancer patients.…”

Antimicrobial properties of conventional restorative filling materials and advances in antimicrobial properties of composite resins and glass ionomer cements—A literature review

“…The PEI nanoparticles did not affect the material's mechanical properties and that no nanoparticles leachedout [118]. Both biofilm thickness and bacterial vitality were affected by the material in the in vivo study [119].…”

“…Nanoparticles' good antibacterial properties have been attributed to their large surface area to volume ratios [9]. Antibacterial activity of quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine (PEI) nanoparticles embedded in resins has been tested both in vitro and in vivo [118,119,122,123] as well in temporary restorative materials [124]. In vitro, materials embedded showed antibacterial activity [118,124], with effects lasting for a month [118].…”

“…Several types on nanoparticles have been used to impart antimicrobial properties to dental materials [2,3,9,12,[118][119][120][121]. Nanoparticles' good antibacterial properties have been attributed to their large surface area to volume ratios [9].…”

Insight into membrane selectivity of linear and branched polyethylenimines and their potential as biocides for advanced wound dressings

“…Polyethylenimines (PEIs) belong to the class of synthetic cationic polymers with excellent transfection efficiency for gene delivery and antiviral properties [28,29]. A number of quaternized derivatives of PEIs in the form of nanoparticles or coatings have been shown to elicit potent antimicrobial activity against Grampositive and Gram-negative pathogens [30][31][32][33]. However, there exist only a limited number of studies that have evaluated the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity of PEIs in their unmodified native forms.…”