Objective  To explore the effect of polystyrene (PS) and PS-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) electrospun materials on the adhesion ability of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a common periodontal pathogen.

  Methods  PS and PS-PVP electrospun materials were prepared with stainless steel needles in high-voltage electric field. The growth and adhesion of P. gingivalis on the surface of different materials were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The changes in the amount of P. gingivalis biofilm formed on the surface of different materials were measured according to viable colony forming units (CFU). The effect of surface charge of the different materials on the adhesion ability of P. gingivalis was determined through changing the charge properties on the surface of the electrospun materials.

  Results  SEM images showed that both PS and PS-PVP can be used to form electrospun fibers with a diameter of 0.2 μm. SEM images and CFU counts of the biofilm at 24 h and 48 h showed that there was a smaller amount of P. gingivalis biofilm on the surface of the two materials (P<0.05). After treatment with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB), the surface charge of the PS-PVP electrospun material changed from being negatively charged to being positively charged, and the amount of bacterial adhesion on the surface increased significantly in comparison to that of untreated PS and PS-PVP materials (P<0.05).

  Conclusion  PS and PS-PVP electrospun materials can be used to reduce the adhesion ability of P. gingivalis on the surface of different materials, and this ability may be related to the surface charge properties of the materials.