Antimicrobial effect of chitosan against periodontal pathogens biofilms

Over the years authors have established that chitosan possesses significant antimicrobial activity against planktonic bacteria however, little is known about the effect of chitosan upon sessile microbial communities. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of chitosan against 5 periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonasgingivalis, Prevotellaintermedia, Prevotellabuccae, Tanerellaforsythensis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans biofilm formation. The results obtained show that both high molecular weight and low molecular weight chitosan were capable of inhibiting biofilm formation and biofilm associated phenomena. Sub-MIC concentrations of chitosan inhibited single species biofilm formation up to 90% and dual species biofilms formation up to 80%. Furthermore analysis of the effect of chitosan upon quorum sensing showed inhibition values that reached 70% after 24h exposure to chitosan. The results obtained open new possibilities in the fight against biofilm formation in the oral cavity and the prevention of undesirable microbiological colonization following dental treatments.