The Effect of Curcumin against In Vitro Adhesion of Implant Device-Associated Bacteria on Nanosized Titanium Dioxide

Abstract

Although titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an implantable biomaterial with its antibacterial activity, infection on TiO2 surfaces remains a problem for medical settings. According to our previous studies, curcumin, the main component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), partially hindered the attachment of Streptococcus mutans to human tooth surfaces. Therefore, it was examined whether several implant device-associated bacteria were able to adhere to nanosized TiO2 surfaces. In addition, the effect of curcumin on the bacterial adhesion was investigated. Bacterial strains were cultured on pure Ti and TiO2 surfaces with various nanotube sizes in the absence or presence of curcumin and observed by scanning electron microscopy. Consequently, most bacteria adhered to Ti and TiO2 surfaces. However, curcumin increased the adhesion of bacteria including S. mutans. The results suggest that bacterial adhesion to implant titanium surfaces can be augmented via curcumin ingestion.