Antifungal Effects of Synthetic Human Beta defensin 3 C15 Peptide on Candida albicans infected Root Dentin
Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the antifungal efficacy of a synthetic human beta defensin 3 C15 peptide (HBD3 C15) in Candida albicans infected human root dentin. Methods Standardized root dentin blocks were prepared (6 mm thick, 0.7 mm wide canal) from single rooted human permanent premolars and infected with C. albicans for 3 weeks. They were randomly divided into 4 groups (n 8/group) and their canals were filled with calcium hydroxide (CH) HBD3 C15 peptide, or chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX, 2% as disinfectants or saline as control. After 1 week of disinfection, dentinal debris were harvested at depths of 200 and 400 &mgr;m from the canal lumen, and incubated in Yeast broth for 72 hours at 37degC. Then, colony forming units (CFU) were measured to assess the antifungal efficacy of each medicament and analyzed statistically. Results All medicaments showed significantly lower CFU than saline (P .05) and their antifungal efficacies were similar at both 200 and 400 &mgr;m tubular depths (P .05) HBD3 C15 had similar antifungal efficacy to that of CHX at both depths (P .05) and both medicaments had significantly lower CFU than CH at both depths (P .05) Conclusions In this ex vivo model of C. albicans infected human root dentin, the antifungal efficacy of synthetic HBD3 C15 was comparable with CHX. HighlightsCandida albicans biofilm is closely related to initiation and persistence of refractory apical periodontitis.Antifungal efficacy of various intracanal medicaments were assessed in C. albicans infected human root dentin.In C. albicans infected human dentin blocks, root canals were covered by mature biofilms with tubular penetration of 400 &mgr;m.In this standardized ex vivo model, chlorhexidine and synthetic human &bgr; defensin 3 C15 peptide were similar and highly effective at reducing C. albicans CFU, whereas calcium hydroxide had limited efficacy.
Journal of endodontics