Fabrication of acrylic nanocomposites containing different percentages of TiO۲ nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity compared to other mineral nanoparticles

Considering the novelty of nanotechnology and its applications in dentistry, and the existing conflicts and scarcity of studies regarding the antimicrobial activity of TiO۲, ZnO, and SiO۲ nanoparticles, this study aimed to fabricate acrylic nanocomposites containing different percentages of mineral nanoparticles and assess their antimicrobial activity. In this in vitro, experimental study, standard-strain Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) (ATCC۳۵۶۶۸) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) (ATCC۱۰۲۳۱) were cultured and biochemically confirmed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO۲), silver (Ag), and silicon dioxide (SiO۲) nanoparticles were determined by the broth macrodilution and agar well diffusion method. Remarkably, the results revealed that, TiO۲, SiO۲, and ZnO in ۱, ۰.۵, ۰.۲۵, ۰.۱۲۵, and ۰.۰۶۲wt% concentrations had no inhibitory effect against S. mutans and C. albicans. While, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) showed in vitro activity against S. mutans (MIC=MBC ۶۲.۵ µg/ml) and C. albicans (MIC ۱۲۵ µg/ml) . However, nanocomposites containing ۰.۱۲۵, ۰.۲۵, ۰.۵, ۱, and ۲wt% TiO۲ had no in vitro activity against S. mutans and C. albicans. In the present study, only AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and C. albicans in ۱, ۰.۵, ۰.۲۵, ۰.۱۲۵, and ۰.۰۶۲wt% concentrations. However, further studies are warranted to correlate these findings with clinical outcomes.

Keywords:

nanocomposites , Acrylic Resins , Antibacterial , Antifungal Agents , In vitro activity