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Calcium fluoride nanoparticles induced suppression of Streptococcus mutans biofilm: an in vitro and in vivo approach

  • Applied microbial and cell physiology
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Abstract

Biofilm formation on the tooth surface is the root cause of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Streptococcus mutans is known to produce biofilm which is one of the primary causes of dental caries. Acid production and acid tolerance along with exopolysaccharide (EPS) formation are major virulence factors of S. mutans biofilm. In the current study, calcium fluoride nanoparticles (CaF2-NPs) were evaluated for their effect on the biofilm forming ability of S. mutans in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro studies revealed 89 % and 90 % reduction in biofilm formation and EPS production, respectively. Moreover, acid production and acid tolerance abilities of S. mutans were also reduced considerably in the presence of CaF2-NPs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images were in accordance with the other results indicating inhibition of biofilm without affecting bacterial viability. The qRT-PCR gene expression analysis showed significant downregulation of various virulence genes (vicR, gtfC, ftf, spaP, comDE) associated with biofilm formation. Furthermore, CaF2-NPs were found to substantially decrease the caries in treated rat groups as compared to the untreated groups in in vivo studies. Scanning electron micrographs of rat’s teeth further validated our results. These findings suggest that the CaF2-NPs may be used as a potential antibiofilm applicant against S. mutans and may be applied as a topical agent to reduce dental caries.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (J.N.U., India) and Center of Excellence in Material Sciences (A.M.U., India) for providing instrumental support. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, for the support and for allowing the use of the internal facilities of the department. SK thanks BSR-UGC JRF for a fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Shatavari Kulshrestha, Shakir Khan, Sadaf Hasan, Lama Misba & Asad U. Khan

  2. Center of Excellence in Material Sciences (Nanomaterials), Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    M. Ehtisham Khan

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  1. Shatavari Kulshrestha
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  2. Shakir Khan
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  4. M. Ehtisham Khan
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  5. Lama Misba
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  6. Asad U. Khan
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Correspondence to Asad U. Khan.

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This research was conducted in accordance with institutional ethical standards. The study on animals was approved by the “Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Institutional Ethical Committee.” All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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This study was supported by a grant from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research no. 37 (1576) /13/EMR-II.

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All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Kulshrestha, S., Khan, S., Hasan, S. et al. Calcium fluoride nanoparticles induced suppression of Streptococcus mutans biofilm: an in vitro and in vivo approach. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 100, 1901–1914 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-7154-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-7154-4

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