The DOI matches its Crossref record; 62 of the 62 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Mass Transport of Macromolecules within an In Vitro Model of Supragingival Plaque
Open accessAbstract
The aim of this study was to examine the diffusion of macromolecules through an in vitro biofilm model of supragingival plaque. Polyspecies biofilms containing Actinomyces naeslundii , Fusobacterium nucleatum , Streptococcus oralis , Streptococcus sobrinus , Veillonella dispar , and Candida albicans were formed on sintered hydroxyapatite disks and then incubated at room temperature for defined periods with fluorescent markers with molecular weights ranging from 3,000 to 900,000. Subsequent examination by confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the mean square penetration depths for all tested macromolecules except immunoglobulin M increased linearly with time, diffusion coefficients being linearly proportional to the cube roots of the molecular weights of the probes (range, 10,000 to 240,000). Compared to diffusion in bulk water, diffusion in the biofilms was markedly slower. The rate of diffusion for each probe appeared to be constant and not a function of biofilm depth. Analysis of diffusion phenomena through the biofilms suggested tortuosity as the most probable explanation for retarded diffusion. Selective binding of probes to receptors present in the biofilms could not explain the observed extent of retardation of diffusion. These results are relevant to oral health, as selective attenuated diffusion of fermentable carbohydrates and acids produced within dental plaque is thought to be essential for the development of carious lesions.
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In the citing paper
“Thurnheer et al242 found that penetration depths of macromolecules decreased linearly for molecular weights up to 240,000 Da in their Zurich biofilm model of supragingival plaque.”
From The dental plaque biofilm matrix (2021) · cites this paper as [242]
In the citing paper
“Mixed-species biofilms cultured in vitro retard the penetration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M antibodies, to the point where IgG does not reach the center of clusters a few hundred micrometers in diameter.242,250”
From The dental plaque biofilm matrix (2021) · cites this paper as [242]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, exopolysaccharides create chemical and metabolic gradients within biofilms that affect chemical and nutrient cycling as well as diffusion, thus altering the microenvironment and pH within biofilms consortium.”
From The oral microbiome: Role of key organisms and complex networks in oral health and disease (2021) · cites this paper as [287]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Thurnheer, T., Gmür, R., Shapiro, S., & Guggenheim, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Institute for Oral Microbiology and General Immunology, University of Zürich, CH-8028 Zürich, Switzerland
- Venue
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Published
- 2003-03
- Volume
- 69
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1702-1709
- ISSN
- 0099-2240 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-5336
- PMC
- PMC150054
- OpenAlex
- W2166083475
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 9.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- Universität Konstanz
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › General Dentistry › Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Keywords
- supragingival plaque, dental plaque, macromolecular diffusion, diffusion coefficient, molecular weight dependence, tortuosity, fluorescent probes, immunoglobulin M, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus oralis, Veillonella dispar, Candida albicans, hydroxyapatite, caries development, oral health
- MeSH terms
- Actinomyces, Albumins, Candida albicans, Dental Plaque, Dextrans, Diffusion, Fluorescent Dyes, Gingiva, Models, Biological, Veillonella, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus sobrinus, Biofilms, Streptococcus oralis, Macromolecular Substances
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