The release of Fluconazole antifungal drug from acrylic resin denture base and the efficacy on growth inhibition of Candida albicans

Abstract

Introduction: The objectives of this study was to investigate the release of Fluconazole antifungal drug from an autoand heated-polymerized poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin and the effect of thereleased drug on the growth of Candida albicans.

Method: Acrylic resins were prepared in disc shape (20 mm. in diameter, 26 mm. thickness) for 36 specimensand divided into the group of control and the group of PMMA discs doped with Fluconazole antifungaldrug (5%ww) for 6 of each. The released antifungal drug from the resin discs were measured by UV-Visspectrophotometer on the day of 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28. In addition, agar well diffusion method of inhibitionzone was used to investigate the effect of Fluconazole releasing from auto-polymerized PMMA on aresistant strain of Candida albicans.

Results: The results revealed that it was feasible to incorporate Fluconazole with denture acrylic resin as the leachingof Fluconazole out of the auto-polymerized resin into distilled water was shown a significantly higher thanthe control on day 1 and 7 (P<0.05). However, Fluconazole releasing rate was significantly lower and stablethroughout the 28 days test period. Moreover, the released drug from auto-polymerized resin demonstratedan antifungal activity against the resistant Candida albicans on day 1 to 7 when the microbiologicaltechnique was used. In contrast to the heated-polymerized resin which was not shown significant releaseof Fluconazole from the resin.

Discussion and Conclusion: This investigation found a contribution of treatment of fungal infections directed to the oral cavity. Fluconazole releasing from auto-polymerized resin denture base may be a delivery system toachieve the therapeutic effect.

Key words: Fluconazole, Denture stomatitis, Candida albicans, Antifungal drug