Manufacturing of photocatalytic dental prosthesis cleaning devices.
Project no. 29710 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2023
Summary
<p>The world's population is aging, and the use of removable dentures is increasing. Infections related to dentures are a significant clinical problem, especially in elderly individuals with poor self-care, compromised immune systems, and chronic diseases. While current treatment technologies allow for managing bacterial infections, combating fungal (especially Candida) infections still presents some limitations. Photocatalysis is the term given to the spontaneous chemical reaction that occurs on certain semiconductor surfaces, such as TiO2, in the presence of water/moisture, through ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As a result of these reactions, free oxygen and hydroxyl radicals are formed on the titanium surface. These radicals disrupt the membrane/wall structure of microorganisms adhering to the surface, leading to their death; this is called direct photocatalytic disinfection. In our preliminary work in the microbiology laboratory, we showed that the photocatalytic effect can also occur in areas far from the TiO2 surface; this can be called the indirect (distant) antimicrobial effect of photocatalysis. This project aims to design and characterize a prototype device that cleans dental prostheses placed in water inside a cup coated with a TiO2 layer on its inner surface using UV photocatalysis, thereby eliminating microorganisms (indirect - distant - antimicrobial effect); to quantify its lethal effect against bacteria and fungi on the prosthesis material; and finally, to investigate the possible negative effects of UV irradiation on the prosthesis material using various laboratory devices. Based on the results, an attempt will be made to create a prototype of a photocatalytic dental prosthesis cleaning device.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Ultraviolet light, Titanium dioxide, photocatalytic effect, dental prosthesis cleaning.</p>