Aim: Soft denture lining materials are susceptible to be colonized by different microorganisms, especially by
Candida albicans (
C. albicans), causing denture-induced stomatitis. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO
2 NPs) into a soft denture liner towards reducing microbial activity. Method: A total of 40 PEMA-TiO
2 nanocomposites samples were fabricated by adding 0.0 wt.% (control), 1.0 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2 wt.% TiO
2 NPs to a heat cured soft denture lining material (polyethyl methacrylate, PEMA). The prepared samples were divided into four groups (
n = 10) according to the content of TiO
2 NPs. The uniformity of TiO
2 NPS distribution within the denture liner matrix was assessed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The viable count of
C. albicans was evaluated to test the antifungal resistance of the developed composite. Results: The SEM images showed fairly homogeneous dispersion, with patches of TiO
2 NPs agglomeration within the PEMA matrix and an increasing concentration of NPs with higher NP content. The particle map and EDX analysis confirmed the evidence of the TiO
2 NPs. The mean viable count results for the control (0.0 wt.%) and 1.0 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2 wt.% TiO
2 groups were 139.80, 12.00, 6.20, and 1.00, respectively, with a significant difference from the control group (
p < 0.05). The antifungal activity also increased with the increase in the concentration of TiO
2 NPs. Conclusions: The addition of TiO
2 NPs into a heat-cured soft denture liner provided antifungal activity as evidenced by the reduced colonization of
C. albicans. The antimicrobial activity of the liner material increased with the increased concentration of TiO
2 NPS.
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