1. Antifungal effect of polymethyl methacrylate resin base with embedded Au nanoparticlesIvan Marić, Anamarija Zore, Franc Rojko, Andrijana Sever Škapin, Roman Štukelj, Aleksander Učakar, Rajko Vidrih, Valentina Veselinović, Marijan Gotić, Klemen Bohinc, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Full and partial restorations in dentistry must replicate the characteristics of the patient’s natural teeth. Materials must have good mechanical properties and be non-toxic and biocompatible. Microbes, which can form biofilms, are constantly in contact with restorations. In this study, we investigate how well Candida albicans adheres to a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin base with gold (Au) nanoparticles. We synthesized Au nanoparticles and characterized them. The average size of Au nanoparticles embedded in PMMA was 11 nm. The color difference ∆E between PMMA and PMMA/Au composites was 2.7 and was still esthetically acceptable to patients. PMMA/Au surfaces are rougher and more hydrophilic than pure PMMA surfaces, and the isoelectric point of both types of surfaces was 4.3. Above the isoelectric point, PMMA/Au surfaces are more negatively charged than PMMA surfaces. The added Au nanoparticles decreased the tensile strength, while the hardness did not change significantly. Adhesion measurements showed that PMMA surfaces modified with Au nanoparticles reduced the extent of microbial adhesion of Candida albicans. Keywords: fungal adhesión, C. albicans, polymethyl methacrylate resin, Au, surface properties, composites Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2023; Views: 218; Downloads: 90
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2. Biophysical properties of foamed and solid polymers used in orthotics and prostheticsKlemen Bohinc, Anže Abram, Anamarija Zore, Roman Štukelj, Ana Lenarčič, Rajko Vidrih, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Orthotic and prosthetic materials should have good mechanical and antibacterial properties. Therefore, in our study, we consider four common foamed closed-cells and two solid polymeric materials regarding their mechanical behaviour and tendency for bacterial adhesion. For all materials, the surface roughness, hydrophobicity, zeta potential, tensile properties, hardness and CIE color parameters were measured. We found that foamed polymeric materials have higher roughness, higher hydrophobicity, lower Young's modulus, lower maximum tensile strength and lower hardness than solid materials. Bacterial adhesion test measurements based on observation by scanning electron microscopy show much a lower adhesion extent of S. aureus on solid materials than on foamed materials. The measured biophysical properties could be the key data for users to select the optimal materials. Keywords: surface characterization, bacterial adhesion, foamed materials, prosthetic and orthotic material, surfaces Published in DiRROS: 22.05.2023; Views: 160; Downloads: 111
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3. Parameters for discrimination between organic and conventional production : a case study for chicory plants (Cichorium intybus L.)Lovro Sinkovič, Marijan Nečemer, Nives Ogrinc, Dragan Žnidarčič, David Stopar, Rajko Vidrih, Vladimir Meglič, 2020, original scientific article Keywords: Organic production, Conventional production, Chicory plant, Bioactive compounds, Fertility management, Isotopic signature, Multi-elemental profile, Nitrogen assimilation Published in DiRROS: 11.05.2020; Views: 2225; Downloads: 829
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