Antimicrobial properties, anti-virulence activities, and physico-mechanical characteristics of orthodontic adhesive containing C-phycocyanin: a promising application of natural products.

INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial orthodontic adhesives aim to reduce enamel demineralization, white spot lesions, and incipient tooth decay around bonded orthodontic brackets, but they should not imperil its mechanical properties. AIM To evaluate the antimicrobial and physico-mechanical properties of acrylic containing different concentrations of C-phycocyanin on Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Candida albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mechanical properties of acrylic resins were measured by flexural strength test after preparation of acrylic resin samples with concentrations of 1%, 2%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of C-phycocyanin. Then we evaluated the antimicrobial effects of acrylic resin containing the maximum concentration of C-phycocyanin with clinically acceptable flexural strength and the changes in expression of virulence factors. RESULTS The highest and lowest means of flexural strength were obtained in acrylic resins containing 0% and 10% concentrations of C-phycocyanin at 50.2±4.5 and 30.1±3.3 MPa, respectively. Adding 1%, 2%, and 5% of C-phycocyanin showed no significant decrease in flexural strength (p>0.05). The maximum mean diameter of the growth inhibition zone was observed around discs containing 5% of C-phycocyanin. Until day 30 of the study, no microbial biofilms were formed on any acrylic disc. Only microbial biofilms of C. albicans were able to form on discs containing 5% of C-phycocyanin at 90 days. 5% C-phycocyanin could significantly decrease the expression levels of gtfB, hsp16, and ALS9 6.1-, 7.3-, and 3.9-fold, respectively. CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that the most acceptable concentration of C-phycocyanin in acrylic resin is 5% based on the results of flexural strength tests and antimicrobial activities of acrylic resin containing various concentrations of C-phycocyanin.