Particulate Bioglass reduces the viability of bacterial biofilms formed on its surface in an in vitro model

45S5 Bioglass is a bioactive implant material which, in its particulate form, isused in the repair of periodontal defects. The surface reactions undergone by this materialin an aqueous environment may exert an antibacterial effect that would be beneficialto periodontal surgical treatment. Biofilms of Streptococcus sanguis, an early plaqueformer, and mixed species biofilms from a salivary inoculum grown under conditionssimilar to those associated with periodontal implants, were grown on particulate BioglassAin a constant depth film fermenter (CDFF). Control biofilms were grown on inert glassparticulates. At sample times of 3, 24 and 48 hours the viability of biofilms of S. sanguisgrown on BioglassA was significantly lower than for those grown on inert glass. In theexperiments with subgingivally-modelled mixed species biofilms, the total anaerobiccounts were significantly lower on BioglassA after 24 and 48 hours, but not 96 or 168hours, compared to inert glass. Thus, particulate BioglassA has the potential to reducebacterial colonisation of its surface in vivo, a feature relevant to post-surgicalperiodontal wound healing.