Novel Denture Cleanser Formulated From Virgin Coconut Oil and The Anionic Emulsifier Against Candida albicans Biofilms Formed on 96-Wells Plate and Acrylic Resin Surfaces

Abstract The objectives of this study were to investigate the inhibitory effect of coconut oil denture-cleansing (CDC) formula against Candida albicans biofilm formed on 96-wells plate and acrylic surfaces at various immersion times and to determine the effects on physical properties of heat-cured acrylic surfaces. A total of twenty-seven CDC formulas were prepared. All CDC formulas were evaluated the stability and anticandidal activity by freeze-defrost cycles and broth microdilution assays, respectively. The formula 22th (F22) containing 0.3 g of anionic emulsifier at a ratio 40:60 of virgin coconut oil to distilled water showed the highest stability and anticandidal activity. The percent inhibition against C. albicans biofilm formed on 96-well plate and acrylic resin surfaces of the F22 after 8 hours of immersion were 86.87 ± 0.65%, and 91.19 ± 1.81%, respectively. However, the F22 had significantly lower inhibitory activity than 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (P <0.05). Furthermore, flexural strength of acrylic resin specimens was determined using a 3-point bending test and surface roughness was measured with a profilometer. The flexural strength and the change in surface roughness of F22 were not significant different compared with chlorhexidine and distilled water after 8 hours immersion for 30 days (P >0.05). In conclusions, F22 which containing 0.3 g of anionic emulsifier at the ratio of coconut oil to distilled water at 40:60 exhibited the potent inhibitory activity to Candida albicans biofilms and had no significant effect on the flexural strength and surface roughness of acrylic resins after immersion for 30 days. Keywords: Denture cleanser, Coconut oil, Anionic emulsifier, Biofilm, Candida albicans, Acrylic resins