Antifungal agent effects on soft denture liners physical characteristics and ability to inhibit Candida albicans

Objectives: Denture soft liners enhance comfort for patients with fungal denture syndrome by cushioning the tissue surface. Integration of them with antifungal agents further improves treatment outcomes. This study evaluates the drug release and antifungal efficacy of three antifungal agents - posaconazole, voriconazole, and chlorhexidine, incorporated into a resin-based denture soft liner (COE-Soft) at 1% concentration. The impact on antifungal activity, drug release, and the physical properties of the liner, including water sorption, color stability, and degree of conversion (DC), was assessed.Methods: 240 samples were divided into two groups of 120 each. The samples were evaluated for antifungal activity against Candida albicans, drug release profiles, water sorption, color stability, and DC. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for each agent: posaconazole, voriconazole, and chlorhexidine.Results: The MIC values were 0.8 μg/ml for posaconazole and voriconazole, and 25 μg/ml for chlorhexidine against Candida albicans. Chlorhexidine showed the highest release rate among the agents, followed by posaconazole and voriconazole. It improved the DC and color stability of the liner, while posaconazole and voriconazole decreased these properties and increased water sorption. Voriconazole exhibited the highest mean antifungal activity (35.73 ± 1.83), followed by posaconazole (21.8 ± 1.37) and chlorhexidine (13.73 ± 3.03).Significance: Chlorhexidine enhances the physical properties of denture soft liners but has a higher MIC. Posaconazole and voriconazole exhibit stronger antifungal activity, though they compromise physical properties such as water sorption and color stability.