Biofilm formation and proteomic profile of simple and mixed Candida albicans and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in a 3D-printed denture base resin under different printing angulations

• Grant number: 24/01694-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Pero
• Grantee: Larianne de Sousa Moisés
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The manufacture of denture bases through digital additive manufacturing (3D printing) presents a series of advantages over the conventional technique. However, due to the wide variety of materials, systems and printing parameters, some notes still need to be clarified. The biological behavior related to the formation characteristics of simple and mixed biofilms, as well as the proteomic expression of these biofilms formed on printed resins used to make prosthetic bases, should be investigated, since they indicate the virulence factors of biofilms, which may help in establishing strategies for preventing oral diseases. The objective of this study will be to evaluate the adhesion and formation of simple and mixed biofilms of Candida albicans and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) on the surface of a resin for denture base obtained by 3D printing, varying the printing angles (0º, 45º or 90º), as well as evaluating the expression of proteins related to the virulence of these biofilms formed under different experimental conditions. Discs (10 x 1,2 mm) of a denture base resin (priZma 3D Bio Denture) will be obtained in each experimental condition (0, 45 or 90 degrees) using a 3D printer LCD system. Prior to the adhesion and biofilm formation tests, the discs will be thermocycled (5,000 cycles, 5º and 55ºC), the average surface roughness of the discs will be measured using a digital profilometer Ra (µm) and the surface free energy (erg cm-2) from measurements of contact angle, obtained using a goniometer connected to a computerized system. Biofilm formation will be carried out from C.albicans and S.aureus inocula on resin discs incubated at 37ºC for 90 minutes and 48h. After this period, analyzes will be carried out on cellular viability by counting colony forming units (CFU/ml), cellular metabolism using the XTT assay (absorbance) and analysis by confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The proteomic analysis will be carried out using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for the evaluation of the expression of specific proteins related to the development of C. albicans and S. aureus. Quantitative microbiological analyzes will be carried out in triplicate on three separate occasions for 90 minutes and 48 hours, and qualitative analyzes (confocal and SEM) will be carried out in duplicate on just one occasion. The data will be tabulated and subjected to appropriate statistical tests, according to adherence to normality, and a significance level of 5% will be used. (AU)