Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment

<i>Streptococcus mutans</i> is a Gram-positive bacterium highly associated with dental caries, and it has a strong biofilm-forming ability, especially in a sugar-rich environment. Many strategies have been undertaken to prevent dental caries by targeting these bacteria. Recently, we obse...

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Main Authors: Maayan Avraham, Doron Steinberg, Tamar Barak, Miriam Shalish, Mark Feldman, Ronit Vogt Sionov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Biomedicines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/2/521
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author Maayan Avraham
Doron Steinberg
Tamar Barak
Miriam Shalish
Mark Feldman
Ronit Vogt Sionov
author_facet Maayan Avraham
Doron Steinberg
Tamar Barak
Miriam Shalish
Mark Feldman
Ronit Vogt Sionov
author_sort Maayan Avraham
collection DOAJ
description <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> is a Gram-positive bacterium highly associated with dental caries, and it has a strong biofilm-forming ability, especially in a sugar-rich environment. Many strategies have been undertaken to prevent dental caries by targeting these bacteria. Recently, we observed that a sustained-release varnish containing triclosan and cannabidiol (CBD) was more efficient than each compound alone in preventing biofilm formation by the fungus <i>Candida albicans</i>, which is frequently involved in oral infections together with <i>S. mutans</i>. It was therefore inquiring to study the effect of this drug combination on <i>S. mutans</i>. We observed that the combined treatment of triclosan and CBD had stronger anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activity than each compound alone, thus enabling the use of lower concentrations of each drug to achieve the desired effect. The combined drug treatment led to an increase in the SYTO 9<sup>low</sup>, propidium iodide (PI)<sup>high</sup> bacterial population as analyzed by flow cytometry, indicative for bacteria with disrupted membrane. Both triclosan and CBD induced membrane hyperpolarization, although there was no additive effect on this parameter. HR-SEM images of CBD-treated bacteria show the appearance of elongated and swollen bacteria with several irregular septa structures, and upon combined treatment with triclosan, the bacteria took on a swollen ellipse and sometimes oval morphology. Increased biofilm formation was observed at sub-MIC concentrations of each compound alone, while combining the drugs at these sub-MIC concentrations, the biofilm formation was prevented. The inhibition of biofilm formation was confirmed by CV biomass staining, MTT metabolic activity, HR-SEM and live/dead together with exopolysaccharide (EPS) staining visualized by spinning disk confocal microscopy. Importantly, the concentrations required for the anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities toward <i>S. mutans</i> were non-toxic to the normal Vero epithelial cells. In conclusion, the data obtained in this study propose a beneficial role of combined triclosan/CBD treatment for potential protection against dental caries.
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spelling doaj.art-b1a96c705b1f49579ce552f65e906f5f2023-11-16T19:19:27ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592023-02-0111252110.3390/biomedicines11020521Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD TreatmentMaayan Avraham0Doron Steinberg1Tamar Barak2Miriam Shalish3Mark Feldman4Ronit Vogt Sionov5Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ein Kerem Campus, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelFaculty of Dental Medicine, Ein Kerem Campus, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelFaculty of Dental Medicine, Ein Kerem Campus, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelHadassah Medical Center, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelFaculty of Dental Medicine, Ein Kerem Campus, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelFaculty of Dental Medicine, Ein Kerem Campus, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel<i>Streptococcus mutans</i> is a Gram-positive bacterium highly associated with dental caries, and it has a strong biofilm-forming ability, especially in a sugar-rich environment. Many strategies have been undertaken to prevent dental caries by targeting these bacteria. Recently, we observed that a sustained-release varnish containing triclosan and cannabidiol (CBD) was more efficient than each compound alone in preventing biofilm formation by the fungus <i>Candida albicans</i>, which is frequently involved in oral infections together with <i>S. mutans</i>. It was therefore inquiring to study the effect of this drug combination on <i>S. mutans</i>. We observed that the combined treatment of triclosan and CBD had stronger anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activity than each compound alone, thus enabling the use of lower concentrations of each drug to achieve the desired effect. The combined drug treatment led to an increase in the SYTO 9<sup>low</sup>, propidium iodide (PI)<sup>high</sup> bacterial population as analyzed by flow cytometry, indicative for bacteria with disrupted membrane. Both triclosan and CBD induced membrane hyperpolarization, although there was no additive effect on this parameter. HR-SEM images of CBD-treated bacteria show the appearance of elongated and swollen bacteria with several irregular septa structures, and upon combined treatment with triclosan, the bacteria took on a swollen ellipse and sometimes oval morphology. Increased biofilm formation was observed at sub-MIC concentrations of each compound alone, while combining the drugs at these sub-MIC concentrations, the biofilm formation was prevented. The inhibition of biofilm formation was confirmed by CV biomass staining, MTT metabolic activity, HR-SEM and live/dead together with exopolysaccharide (EPS) staining visualized by spinning disk confocal microscopy. Importantly, the concentrations required for the anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities toward <i>S. mutans</i> were non-toxic to the normal Vero epithelial cells. In conclusion, the data obtained in this study propose a beneficial role of combined triclosan/CBD treatment for potential protection against dental caries.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/2/521anti-bacterialanti-biofilmcannabidioldental caries<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>triclosan
spellingShingle Maayan Avraham
Doron Steinberg
Tamar Barak
Miriam Shalish
Mark Feldman
Ronit Vogt Sionov
Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
Biomedicines
anti-bacterial
anti-biofilm
cannabidiol
dental caries
<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>
triclosan
title Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
title_full Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
title_fullStr Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
title_full_unstemmed Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
title_short Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
title_sort improved anti biofilm effect against the oral cariogenic i streptococcus mutans i by combined triclosan cbd treatment
topic anti-bacterial
anti-biofilm
cannabidiol
dental caries
<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>
triclosan
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/2/521
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AT tamarbarak improvedantibiofilmeffectagainsttheoralcariogenicistreptococcusmutansibycombinedtriclosancbdtreatment
AT miriamshalish improvedantibiofilmeffectagainsttheoralcariogenicistreptococcusmutansibycombinedtriclosancbdtreatment
AT markfeldman improvedantibiofilmeffectagainsttheoralcariogenicistreptococcusmutansibycombinedtriclosancbdtreatment
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