{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T06:59:41Z","timestamp":1781161181375,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781136000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Dental enamel is a highly mineralized tissue with limited regenerative capacity, making it particularly susceptible to demineralization processes that negatively affect oral health. The development of biocompatible remineralizing materials is essential for advancing preventive and minimally invasive dentistry. This study aimed to evaluate the remineralizing effect of a chitosan\u2013xylitol combination on dental enamel, as well as its antimicrobial activity. It was hypothesized that this combination would promote enamel remineralization. Surface morphology and elemental composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to identify chemical interactions associated with hydrogel formation. Mechanical properties were assessed through Vickers microhardness testing before and after treatment. Additionally, antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the Kirby\u2013Bauer method against microorganisms associated with dental caries. The results demonstrated that the chitosan\u2013xylitol combination promotes enamel remineralization, evidenced by structural changes, increased mineral content, and improved microhardness. A complementary antimicrobial effect was also observed. These findings support the potential of this combination as a promising alternative for preventive and conservative dental treatments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels12060522","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T05:50:58Z","timestamp":1781157058000},"page":"522","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Remineralizing and Antimicrobial Effects of a Chitosan\u2013Xylitol Hydrogel on Dental Enamel: An In Vitro Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-5926-3015","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jes\u00fas Antonio","family":"Valenciana-Sol\u00eds","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"\u00c1rea de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"C\u00e9sar","family":"Gait\u00e1n-Fonseca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u00c1rea de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico"},{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98600, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1513-4971","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis","family":"Aguilera-Galav\u00edz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u00c1rea de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico"},{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98600, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4982-5225","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabriel Alejandro","family":"Mart\u00ednez-Casta\u00f1\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Estomatolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de San Luis Potos\u00ed, San Luis Potos\u00ed 78290, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u00d3scar","family":"Cepeda-Arg\u00fcelles","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u00c1rea de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico"},{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98600, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8822-185X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ver\u00f3nica","family":"Zavala-Alonso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Estomatolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de San Luis Potos\u00ed, San Luis Potos\u00ed 78290, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco Tulio","family":"Bernal-El\u00edas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98600, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7503-350X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Berm\u00fadez-Jim\u00e9nez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u00c1rea de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico"},{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Zacatecas \u201cFrancisco Garc\u00eda Salinas\u201d, Zacatecas 98600, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gil-Bona, A., and Bidlack, F.B. 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