Prokaryotic/eukaryotic co-culture models have been studied in our lab for the evaluation of biomaterial compatibility in the oral cavity. The co-culture of oral streptococci with human gingival fibroblasts was the biological model used to mimic the oral cavity environment for the evaluation the cytotoxic effects of HEMA, TEGDMA, Chitlac-nAg.
Considering the important role performed by biofilm in oral disease, we also studied:
● titanium disks with different surface topographies to evaluate their efficiency in the reduction of the P. gingivalis, S. oralis biofilm formation in peri-implantitis ;
● quantification, by quantitative PCR, of adhering P. gingivalis on the healing screw of dental implant during surgical stages;
● different dental composites to evaluate the interaction with S. mutans, Candida albicans.Our studies have focused also on antimicrobial activity of LEDs irradiation with different wavelengths on the both planktonic and mature biofilm of Enterococcus faecalis, to obtain a new strategy for the prevention of endodontic infections.
