Wasted Ganoderma tsugae Derived Chitosans for Smear Layer Removal in Endodontic Treatment

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the synergistic effects of acid etching and metal-ion chelation in dental smear layer removal using wasted Ganoderma tsugae derived chitosans. The wasted Ganoderma tsugae fruiting body was used to prepare both acid-soluble fungal chitosan (FCS) and alkali-soluble polysaccharide (ASP). To explore the effective irrigant concentration for smear layer removal, a chelating effect on ferrous ions was conducted. Specimens of various concentrations of EDTA, citric acid, and polysaccharide solutions were reacted with FerroZine™ then the absorbance was examined at 562 nm by a UV-visible spectrophotometer to calculate their metal chelating capability. Twenty extracted premolars were instrumented and individually soaked in the solutions of 15 wt% EDTA, 10 wt% citric acid, 0.04 wt% ASP, 0.04 wt% FCS, and normal saline were randomly divided into five groups (N=4). Next, each tooth was cleaved longitudinally and examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assay the effectiveness of smear layer removal. The chelating capability for EDTA, FCS, and ASP showed no significant difference over the concentration of 0.04 wt% (p > 0.05). The SEM results showed that 0.04 wt% FCS solution was effective in smear layer removal along the canal wall. These results indicated that Ganoderma tsuage derived FCS in acid solutions could be a potential alternative as a root canal irrigant solution due to its synergistic effect.

Medical Application of Polymer-Based Composites

“…The use of biological polymers from waste to produce new materials for medical use is a trend for sustainability. Since chitosan and its derivatives have been reported to be a material with high chelating capacity [17], Huang et al designed an irrigant system using chitosans derived from waste Ganoderma tsugae for smear layer removal in endodontic treatment and concluded that chitosan derived from fungal biomass shows potential as an alternate irrigant for clinical use [18]. Thacker et al's study testing physical properties and cell response of artificial tears produced using Bletilla striata polysaccharide is another example of natural plant-based polymers with tissue engineering applications.…”