The thickness of BNC coating.

Incipient carious lesions, the most common complication in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances, call for the development of novel preventive dental materials that do not rely on patient adherence. The present study aimed to assess the ability of elastomeric ligatures coated with bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to deliver sustained antibacterial activity, during the standard 28-day interval between orthodontic appointments, without compromising their mechanical properties. Kombucha membrane was used to produce cellulose as a secondary product from the fermentation of tea broth with symbiotic bacteria and yeast culture. Characterization of BNC-coated elastomeric ligatures was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis. The samples were pre-treated by immersion first in isopropyl alcohol, then in 8 mL nanocellulose solution for 7 days. Tensile strain and strength of the BNC-coated and conventional ligatures were evaluated using a tensile testing machine. Direct contact and agar diffusion tests were performed to assess the antibacterial activity of nanocellulose. In addition, the release profile of BNC was evaluated. Data analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-hoc Tukey’s test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. P values less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. There was no statistically significant difference in tensile strain and strength between the BNC-coated and conventional ligatures. The coated ligatures provided sustained antibacterial activity during the required 28 days. The use of BNC-coated elastomeric ligatures in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances might be a promising solution to plaque formation and subsequent enamel decalcification.</div

Ligatures samples with and without bacterial nanocellulose coating.

Ligatures samples with and without bacterial nanocellulose coating.</p

Fig 2 -

FTIR spectrums of elastomeric ligatures without (a) and with (b) BNC coating.</p

Mean ± SD values of antibacterial activity at different time intervals.

Mean ± SD values of antibacterial activity at different time intervals.</p

BNC release profile of elastomeric ligatures during the 28-day study period.

BNC release profile of elastomeric ligatures during the 28-day study period.</p

The results of disc diffusion method on <i>S</i>. <i>mutans</i>.

(A) elastomeric ligatures without BNC coating: the bacterial growth is seen all over the agar plate; (B) elastomeric ligatures with BNC coating: the bacterial growth is observable all over the plate, except on the sample, and the presence of an inhibition zone is obvious.</p

Fig 4 -

SEM images of elastomeric ligatures without (A1, B1) and with (A2, B2) BNC coating.</p

Mean ± SD values of antibacterial activity at different time intervals.

Mean ± SD values of antibacterial activity at different time intervals.</p

EDS analysis of elastomeric ligatures with BNC coating.

EDS analysis of elastomeric ligatures with BNC coating.</p

S1 File -

Incipient carious lesions, the most common complication in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances, call for the development of novel preventive dental materials that do not rely on patient adherence. The present study aimed to assess the ability of elastomeric ligatures coated with bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to deliver sustained antibacterial activity, during the standard 28-day interval between orthodontic appointments, without compromising their mechanical properties. Kombucha membrane was used to produce cellulose as a secondary product from the fermentation of tea broth with symbiotic bacteria and yeast culture. Characterization of BNC-coated elastomeric ligatures was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis. The samples were pre-treated by immersion first in isopropyl alcohol, then in 8 mL nanocellulose solution for 7 days. Tensile strain and strength of the BNC-coated and conventional ligatures were evaluated using a tensile testing machine. Direct contact and agar diffusion tests were performed to assess the antibacterial activity of nanocellulose. In addition, the release profile of BNC was evaluated. Data analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-hoc Tukey’s test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. P values less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. There was no statistically significant difference in tensile strain and strength between the BNC-coated and conventional ligatures. The coated ligatures provided sustained antibacterial activity during the required 28 days. The use of BNC-coated elastomeric ligatures in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances might be a promising solution to plaque formation and subsequent enamel decalcification.</div