Molecular Mechanisms of Candida albicans Adhesion to Maxillofacial Silicone Elastomers: Integrating Candidate Molecular Pathways with Material Surface Properties
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Dentistry, Arab American University, Jenin P.O. Box 240, Palestine
- 2School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
- 3University Hospital of Würzburg, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
- 4Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Summit University Offa, Offa PMB 4412, Kwara State, Nigeria
Abstract
Colonisation of maxillofacial prostheses by Candida albicans is conventionally attributed to surface roughness, porosity, and wettability properties that explain where cells accumulate rather than why particular surfaces promote biofilm formation. This review reinterprets the in vitro literature on C. albicans adhesion to maxillofacial silicone elastomers through the underlying molecular events. Nine eligible studies identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect conducted on 31 March 2026 were appraised with the QUIN tool and mapped onto a six-stage molecular cascade: surface conditioning, reversible attachment, adhesin engagement, morphogenesis, matrix assembly, and antifungal tolerance. Three conclusions emerged. First, C. albicans senses topography through mechanically gated calcium channels and converts mechanical contact into hyphal commitment; roughness is therefore a morphogenetic cue that surface finishing can withhold. Second, the tested agents—silver nanoparticles, chitosan, thymol, and carvacrol, and a Lactobacillus brevis-derived biosurfactant—engage distinct molecular targets and are not mechanistically interchangeable. Third, most included studies evaluated silicone without salivary conditioning, whereas the clinical interface is an acquired salivary pellicle that supplies both adhesion receptors and antimicrobial peptides. All studies fell within the medium risk-of-bias band (50.0–62.5%). Pellicle-conditioned models and molecular readouts are required. The mechanistic interpretations discussed in this review are derived from the broader C. albicans literature and have not been directly demonstrated on maxillofacial silicone elastomers.
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BibTeX
@article{hamarsha2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular Mechanisms of Candida albicans Adhesion to Maxillofacial Silicone Elastomers: Integrating Candidate Molecular Pathways with Material Surface Properties}},
author = {Ahmed M. Hamarsha and Mustafa Atatra and Nezar Watted and Ahmad Adebayo Irekeola and Mohammad Majduddin Sulaiman and Nurulezah Hasbullah},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209031},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9031},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular Mechanisms of Candida albicans Adhesion to Maxillofacial Silicone Elastomers: Integrating Candidate Molecular Pathways with Material Surface Properties
AU - Ahmed M. Hamarsha
AU - Mustafa Atatra
AU - Nezar Watted
AU - Ahmad Adebayo Irekeola
AU - Mohammad Majduddin Sulaiman
AU - Nurulezah Hasbullah
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209031
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9031
AB - Colonisation of maxillofacial prostheses by Candida albicans is conventionally attributed to surface roughness, porosity, and wettability properties that explain where cells accumulate rather than why particular surfaces promote biofilm formation. This review reinterprets the in vitro literature on C. albicans adhesion to maxillofacial silicone elastomers through the underlying molecular events. Nine eligible studies identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect conducted on 31 March 2026 were appraised with the QUIN tool and mapped onto a six-stage molecular cascade: surface conditioning, reversible attachment, adhesin engagement, morphogenesis, matrix assembly, and antifungal tolerance. Three conclusions emerged. First, C. albicans senses topography through mechanically gated calcium channels and converts mechanical contact into hyphal commitment; roughness is therefore a morphogenetic cue that surface finishing can withhold. Second, the tested agents—silver nanoparticles, chitosan, thymol, and carvacrol, and a Lactobacillus brevis-derived biosurfactant—engage distinct molecular targets and are not mechanistically interchangeable. Third, most included studies evaluated silicone without salivary conditioning, whereas the clinical interface is an acquired salivary pellicle that supplies both adhesion receptors and antimicrobial peptides. All studies fell within the medium risk-of-bias band (50.0–62.5%). Pellicle-conditioned models and molecular readouts are required. The mechanistic interpretations discussed in this review are derived from the broader C. albicans literature and have not been directly demonstrated on maxillofacial silicone elastomers.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -