An in vitro Comparison and Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles Incorporated Poly Methyl Methacrylate Acrylic Denture Resin Against Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND

Denture wearers are susceptible to fungal infections due to plaque accumulation on the tissue surface of dentures. The porosity and roughness of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin provide an ideal niche for Candida albicans colonization, which can lead to denture stomatitis.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This in vitro study included 60 PMMA specimens-30 circular discs (20 mm × 2 mm) for antifungal testing and 30 rectangular bars (65 mm × 10 mm × 2.5 mm) for flexural strength testing. Three groups (n = 10 each) were prepared for both shapes: Group A (control), Group B (0.5% silver nanoparticles (AgNP)), and Group C (1% AgNP). Antifungal activity was assessed using the lawn culture method with the ATCC 28366 strain of C. albicans, recording zones of inhibition. Flexural strength was measured using a universal testing machine with three-point loading.

RESULTS

For antifungal activity, Group B (0.5% AgNP) showed the largest mean inhibition zone (20.20 ± 1.31 mm), followed by Group C (1% AgNP) (15.90 ± 0.87 mm), while the control group showed no inhibition. Differences among all groups were statistically significant (P = 0.001). Flexural strength was highest in the control group (91.06 ± 6.48 MPa), followed by Group B (76.09 ± 14.04 MPa) and Group C (57.92 ± 4.20 MPa). All intergroup differences were statistically significant (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Incorporating AgNP into PMMA denture base resin significantly enhances antifungal activity against C. albicans, with 0.5% AgNP showing superior inhibition compared to 1%.