Chlorhexidine–protein interactions

Abstract

The binding of chlorhexidine to proteins in vitro has been shown to involve albumin in both serum and saliva. The binding, which is pH‐ and concentration‐dependent, occurs both to proteins remaining in solution and to proteins precipitated during the reaction. Both reactions are reversible, although that to precipitated protein apparently involves a stronger binding. If the latter can be correlated to the in vivo situation, it is suggested as a possible explanation of the extended retention of chlorhexidine in the mouth despite the rather rapid turnover of saliva.