Volume 4, Issue 3 , Pages 237-240, September 2008
The antimicrobial sensitivity of Streptococcus mutans to nanoparticles of silver, zinc oxide, and gold
Abstract
Dental caries is a worldwide public health problem for which Streptococcus mutans has been identified as the possible infectious etiology. In recent years nanotechnology has permitted the development of new properties of materials. The objective of this study was to compare the bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects of nanoparticles of silver, zinc oxide, and gold on S. mutans. We used the liquid dilution method to find the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and with subcultures obtained the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). For silver the results showed an average MIC of 4.86 ± 2.71 μg/mL and MBC of 6.25 μg/mL; for zinc the MIC was 500 ± 306.18 μg/mL and MBC of 500 μg/mL; the gold nanoparticles demonstrated an effect only at an initial concentration of 197 μg/mL. We established a higher antimicrobial effect against S. mutans of silver nanoparticles at lower concentrations than gold or zinc, which would allow achieving important clinical effects with a reduced toxicity.
Key words: Antibacterial, Caries, Silver nanoparticles, Streptococcus
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The study was supported entirely by Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí in the different collaborating areas. Nanoparticles were provided by the Faculty of Sciences and material for microbiological tests by Faculty of Stomatology and Chemical Sciences. Neither commercial association current or within the past five years nor any conflict of interest exists.
PII: S1549-9634(08)00047-6
doi:10.1016/j.nano.2008.04.005
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 4, Issue 3 , Pages 237-240, September 2008
