Fig 1.
CFU count and dry weight in S. mutans biofilm.
CFU count and dry weight in the S. mutans biofilm after the twice-daily blue light treatment compared with twice daily treatment with 0.12% Chlorhexidine (positive control) and twice-daily treatment with 0.89% NaCl (negative control). Data represent the mean values and error bars represent standard deviations. Values marked by the different letters are significantly different from each other (p < 0.05).
Fig 2.
The content of EPS-soluble, EPS-insoluble and IPS in S. mutans biofilm.
The content of soluble and insoluble extracellular polysaccharides (EPS-soluble and EPS-insoluble, respectively), and of intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) in S. mutans biofilm (expressed in μg/mg of biofilm) after the twice-daily blue light treatment compared with twice daily treatment with 0.12% Chlorhexidine (positive control) and twice-daily treatment with 0.89% NaCl (negative control). Data represent the mean values and error bars represent standard deviations. Values marked by the different letters are significantly different from each other (p < 0.05).
Fig 3.
Morphology and structure of S. mutans biofilms imaged by VPSEM.
VPSEM images are showing the morphology and structure of S. mutans biofilm after the twice-daily blue light treatment compared with positive and negative controls [Field width of 1.0 mm]. A = Biofilm after the twice daily blue light treatment; B = Biofilm after treatment with 0.12% chlorhexidine (positive control); C = Biofilm after treatment with 0.89% NaCl (negative control).
Fig 4.
Viability and spatial arrangement in the S. mutans biofilms showed by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Five (5) day-old biofilms were stained with BacLight LIVE/DEAD and processed for CSLM. (A) Biofilm after the twice-daily blue light treatment during 5 days. (B) Biofilm after twice-daily treatment with 0.12% Chlorhexidine (positive control). (C) Biofilm after twice-daily treatment with 0.89% NaCl (negative control). (1) Red cells are considered dead and green cells are alive. (2) Overlap of live and dead stacks. (3) Orthogonal view of the overlap of live and dead stacks; dots line represents the interface biofilm/ HA substrate. (4) Representative three-dimensional images of the structural organization of the biofilms: rendered images of the outer layers of biofilms. The total bacterial biomasses calculated by COMSTAT are shown.