Surface‐modified poly(methyl methacrylate) enhances adsorption and retains anticandidal activities of salivary histatin 5

Denture-induced stomatitis is a common intraoral disease which is associated with high levels of Candida albicans adhesion to a denture surface. The aim of this study was to produce a surface-modified denture resin, which is usually manufactured from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), carrying an immobilized anticandidal protein. PMMA was modified by surface polymerization of methyl methacrylic acid to enhance adsorption of a potent candidacidal salivary protein, histatin 5. The modified PMMA showed higher surface adsorption and desorption of histatin 5 than the unmodified material. Because histatin 5 destabilizes C. albicans cell membranes and allows efflux of intracellular molecules, candidacidal activity was monitored by dye release from fungal cells. Adsorbed histatin 5 did not release dye from the yeast cells; however, dye was detected as histatin was desorbed from the surface. In an adhesion assay, modified PMMA decreased human submandibular–sublingual saliva (HSMSL) mediated adherence of yeast cells to the polymer. Precoating histatin 5 onto unmodified PMMA also abolished HSMSL-mediated adhesion. These experiments show that dental acrylic may be surface modified and loaded with histatin 5 as a means of controlled release of histatin 5 to an affected area. This surface modification may additionally reduce adhesion of C. albicans cells to the saliva-coated material. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.