The effects of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) with nanotechnology-applied curcumin and 450nm blue led irradiation on multi-species biofilms in root canals.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) utilizing nanotechnology-applied curcumin activated by blue LED (450 nm) on the elimination of microorganisms arranged in multispecies biofilms inside the root canals of extracted human teeth. Forty single-rooted human teeth were used; these were randomized into four experimental groups, each comprising 10 teeth: control group, no treatment; photosensitizer (PS) group, nanotechnology-applied curcumin alone; light group, blue LED used separately; and aPDT group, nanotechnology-applied curcumin activated by blue LED. To carry out the tests, the interiors of the root canals were inoculated with species of Candida albicans (ATCC 90029), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ATCC 43300), using a multispecies biofilm. After the incubation period, the canals were treated according to the experimental groups, with no treatment given in the control group. Studied inasmuch as the antimicrobial effectiveness of aPDT was concerned, it was observed that the greatest reduction in microbial counts using aPDTs was achieved against MRSA (mean reduction = 2.48 Log10 CFU/mL), followed by Escherichia coli (mean reduction = 1.72), and Enterococcus faecalis (mean reduction = 1.65); a reduction greater than 1.5 Log10 CFU/mL showed relevant effectiveness of aPDT against these microorganisms. Of note, aPDT has also shown considerable effectiveness against Candida albicans (mean reduction = 0.71), with a statistical difference in the reduction between the groups. aPDT was effective in reducing all microorganisms examined. The average reduction was greater than 1.5 Log10 in all microorganisms except for Candida albicans. HIGHLIGHTS: • aPDT was a viable treatment for root canals; • Nanotechnological curcumin aPDT was effective in reducing multispecies biofilm microorganisms; • aPDT technique showed efficacy under the worst microbiological conditions , such as mature multispecies biofilm; • Nanotechnological curcumin aPDT was able to reduce Gram positive, negative bacterial and yeasts in root canals.

A importância da terapia fotodinâmica na descontaminação do sistema de canais radiculares: relatos de casos / The importance of photodynamic therapy for decontamination of the root canal system: case reports

Introdução: o tratamento endodôntico permite a descontaminação do sistema de canais radiculares por meio do preparo químico-mecânico, medicação curativa intracanal e obturação do sistema de canais radiculares. Porém, a literatura aponta que microrganismos podem ter desenvolvido meios de resistência às manobras do método tradicional. Como meio terapêutico adicional, a terapia fotodinâmica (também conhecida como PDT, ou Photodynamic therapy) foi incorporada no tratamento endodôntico convencional, para controle microbiano, sendo de fácil e rápida aplicação, podendo ser utilizada tanto em sessão única quanto em múltiplas sessões. Objetivo: esclarecer o uso da terapia fotodinâmica, bem como as vantagens do seu uso, por meio do relato de dois casos clínicos. Métodos: foram relatados dois casos que ­ segundo os exames clínicos, testes de sensibilidade pulpar e radiográficos realizados ­ apontaram para o diagnóstico pulpar de necrose pulpar e necrose periapical, respectivamente, sugestivo de abscesso perirradicular crônico, inclusive com presença de fístula extrabucal; e sugestivo de granuloma perirradicular. Após o estabelecimento do diagnóstico, foi indicada a terapia endodôntica convencional associada à terapia fotodinâmica. Resultados: as radiografias de um ano de acompanhamento demonstraram área de reparação. Conclusão: o plano de tratamento proposto e relatado demonstrou ser eficaz, uma vez que pôde-se observar cicatrização da fístula, regressão das lesões periapicais (radiograficamente) e restabelecimento de estrutura óssea.