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Antifungal Potential of Secretome from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Stem Cells against Candida spp. Isolates from Oral Candidiasis in HIV/AIDS Patients

NAME : AULYA SETYO PRATIWI

INSTITUTION : UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA

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SHED are known to exhibit a higher proliferation rate, increased population doubling, the ability to form sphere-shaped cell clusters, and multidifferentiation capacity. The collection of SHED does not involve invasive procedures in donors, as the teeth exfoliate naturally. This characteristic makes SHED an appealing and ethically acceptable source of stem cells for research and potential therapeutic applications, contributing to their growing importance in regenerative medicine and various biomedical studies. Nevertheless, the potential of SHED as a stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine studies has not been extensively investigated compared to MSCs derived from bone marrow or adipose tissue, and their utilization in tissue engineering research has gained interest due to fewer ethical and legal constraints.

The inhibition zone assay demonstrated that SHED exerted antifungal activity against all tested Candida species.

This study revealed that SHED has MFC against C. albicans, C. krusei, C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis isolated from OC of HIV/AIDS patient at 25% and MIC 12.5%.

PCR and LAMP techniques are recommended for analyzing the antifungal activity of SHED metabolites against Candida spp. isolated from OC patients with HIV/AIDS.

ABSTRACT

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MATERIALS & METHOD

SHED metabolites are purified from the SHED provided by the Research Centre Faculty of Dental Medicine Universitas Airlangga. Candida spp. was isolated from OC patients after receiving ethical approval and appointment number 681/HRECC.FODM/IX/2022.

We all know that nature has always been a powerful inspiration in the search for new biomaterials.� As we look ahead in the field of regenerative medicine, there is a clear promise in developing new biomaterials for tissue engineering. These innovations are crucial because conventional treatments often only repair or control disease, but do not fully restore the original function and structure of tissues.

That is why current research is increasingly focused on alternatives for organ and tissue defect treatments. Instead of relying solely on grafts or synthetic substitutes, we now explore biomaterials that can actively guide and stimulate regeneration.

The success of tissue engineering, however, is not determined by one single factor. It depends on the interplay of three essential components:

• First, Progenitor cells, which have the ability to differentiate and form new tissue,

• Second, Regulatory signals, such as growth factors and biochemical cues that direct cellular behavior,

• And third, scaffolds, which provide the structural framework to support and organize tissue growth.

It is at this intersection — where cells, signals, and scaffolds meet — that the true potential of regenerative therapy lies. And it is in this context that our study positions the bovine pericardium membrane, enhanced with a natural bioactive agent, Nigella sativa, as a candidate to support better tissue regeneration.

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RESULTS

C. Albicans

C. Tropicalis

C. Dubliniensis

C. Kruseii

Inhibition Zone

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DISCUSSION

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To better understand why the combination of bovine pericardium membrane and Nigella sativa improved osteoblast viability, let’s look briefly at the mechanism of action.

The key compound in Nigella sativa is thymoquinone. This molecule has been shown to work in several important ways.

First, it has strong antioxidant activity, which helps reduce oxidative stress inside cells. Oxidative stress is one of the main factors that can damage osteoblasts and limit their ability to proliferate. By neutralizing free radicals, thymoquinone helps create a more stable environment for cell survival.

Second, thymoquinone has proven anti-inflammatory effects. In regenerative procedures, inflammation is a double-edged sword — some is needed to start healing, but too much can damage tissues and slow down regeneration. By modulating inflammation, thymoquinone allows healing to progress in a more controlled and favorable way.

Third, thymoquinone also exhibits antibacterial properties, reducing the risk of contamination and infection around the regenerative site. This is especially valuable in the oral environment, where bacterial challenges are constant.

Finally, thymoquinone has been shown to stimulate fibroblast proliferation, granulation tissue growth, and re-epithelialization. Together, these processes accelerate wound healing and support the integration of the membrane with surrounding tissues.

So, when integrated into the bovine pericardium membrane, Nigella sativa essentially transforms the scaffold into more than just a passive barrier. It becomes a bioactive structure that both protects and actively promotes regeneration through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pro-healing effects.

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Ladies and gentlemen, let me now bring this presentation to a conclusion.

From our study, we can see that the bovine pericardium membrane, while already valuable as a collagen-based scaffold, gains a new dimension when combined with Nigella sativa. The presence of bioactive compounds, especially thymoquinone, significantly improves osteoblast viability, creating a more favorable environment for bone regeneration.

This highlights an important point: membranes used in Guided Tissue Regeneration should not remain as passive barriers, but instead evolve into bioactive scaffolds — structures that actively support healing through biological as well as mechanical means.

Our findings suggest that Nigella sativa is a promising natural additive that could enhance future biomaterials for periodontal and possibly wider tissue engineering applications. Of course, further research, including in vivo studies, will be needed to validate and expand these findings, but this is a step forward toward nature-inspired solutions for regeneration.

On behalf of my co-authors and myself, I would like to thank you very much for your attention and interest in our work. We hope this study contributes meaningfully to the development of regenerative strategies in dentistry and beyond.

I would now be happy to take any questions.