Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on physical and antimicrobial properties of resin-modified glass ionomer cement

Recent advances in the use of inorganic nanomaterials as anti caries agents

Caries is the most prevalent and widespread chronic oral disease. Traditional caries filling materials, due to their lack of anti-caries capabilities, can readily develop secondary caries. Nanomaterials proposed as an effective approach for caries treatment can inhibit biofilm formation. It also can not only reduce demineralization but also promote remineralization. In recent years, nanotechnology in anti-caries materials, particularly nano-adhesive and nano-composite resin, has advanced rapidly. Because inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) interfere with bacterial metabolism and inhibit biofilm development, inorganic NPs have emerged as a new trend in dental applications. Metal and metal oxide NPs by releasing metal ions, oxidative stress induction, and non-oxidative mechanisms showed significant antimicrobial activity. For applying metal and metal oxide NPs as anti caries agents, silver, zinc, titanium, copper, and calcium ions have been shown significant attention. Moreover, fluoride functionalized inorganic NPs were also employed to improve their efficacy of them. The fluoride-functionalized NPs can promote remineralization, and inhibit demineralization by enhancing apatite formation. In this review, we have provided an overview and recent advances in the use of inorganic NPs as anti caries agents. Furthermore, their antimicrobial, remineralizing, and mechanical impacts on dental materials were discussed.

Antimicrobial properties of glass-ionomer cement incorporated with zinc oxide nanoparticles against mutans streptococci and lactobacilli under orthodontic bands: An in vivo split-mouth study

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to glass-ionomer cement (GIC) (Fuji II SC, GC Corp., Tokyo, Japan) on subgingival accumulation of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli under orthodontic bands.

Materials and Methods

In order to conduct this in vivo split-mouth study, 20 patients aged between 7 and 10 years who required lingual holding arch on their mandibular first molars were divided into two groups. In one group, Fuji II SC GIC was used for cementation of the right molar band, and the same cement containing 2 wt% ZnO-NPs was used for the left one. The opposite was performed for the second group while the operator was blinded to the cement types. Subgingival microbial sampling was performed 16 weeks after cementation of lingual arch. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli colony counts were compared. Paired t-test was used to compare the two cement groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean colony counts of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and total bacterial count in Fuji II SC containing ZnO-NPs were significantly lower than the corresponding values in plain Fuji II SC group.

Conclusion

Incorporation of ZnO-NPs into GIC reveals antimicrobial features against mutans streptococci and lactobacilli under orthodontic bands.

Physicomechanical and Antimicrobial Characteristics of Cement Composites with Selected Nano-Sized Oxides and Binary Oxide Systems

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the durability of building materials, including those based on cementitious binders. Important aspects of durability include the increase of the strength of the cement matrix and enhancement of material resistance to external factors. The use of nanoadditives may be a way to meet these expectations. In the present study, zinc, titanium and copper oxides, used in single and binary systems (to better the effect of their performance), were applied as additives in cement mortars. In the first part of this work, an extensive physicochemical analysis of oxides was carried out, and in the second, their application ranges in cement mortars were determined. The subsequent analyses were employed in determining the physicochemical properties of pristine oxides: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), measurement of the particle size distribution, as well as zeta potential measurement depending on the pH values. Influence on selected physicomechanical parameters of the cement matrix and resistance to the action of selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were also examined. Our work indicated that all nanoadditives worsened the mechanical parameters of mortars during the first 3 days of hardening, while after 28 days, an improvement was achieved for zinc and titanium(IV) oxides. Binary systems and copper(II) oxide deteriorated in strength parameters throughout the test period. In contrast, copper(II) oxide showed the best antibacterial activity among all the tested oxide systems. Based on the inhibitory effect of the studied compounds, the following order of microbial susceptibility to inhibition of growth on cement mortars was established (from the most susceptible, to the most resistant): E. coli < S. aureus < C. albicans < B. cereus = P. aeruginosa < P. putida.