Selection of oral microbial adhesion antagonists using biotinylated Streptococcus sanguis and a human mixed oral microflora

A microtitre assay has been developed using hydroxyapatite-coated wells and Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 10904 at 10(7) cells per mi. A number of models representing toothpaste and mouthwash usage were adopted to detect the ant i-adherent efficacy of a polyvinylmethylether maleic acid copolymer (PVM/MA ), polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene block copolymer (PO/EO). two casein-der ived peptides and selected silicones. The results nut only confirmed the an ti-adherence property of the selected components but also indicated possibl e molecular interactions leading to the observed performance. To account fo r the diversity of oral microbial cells in vivo. a further testing system w as developed. This involved submerging a hydroxyapatite disc in a mixed cul ture of human salivary microbial cells, and exposing it to different treatm ents using the active component either in an aqueous dispersion or in a too thpaste. The effect of toothpastes containing PO/EO, dimethicone copoyol or PVM/MA was investigated over a 4-h incubation with microflora. These tests showed that in a toothpaste formulation the anti-adherent efficacy may be reduced when compared with an aqueous dispersion containing the same or nea rly the same concentration of the active component. Crown copyright (C) 200 1 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.