Abstract:
The major dental problem now a days is occurrence of dental caries. To cope with them, the
best treatment option considered today is restorative material fillings. There is observed few
problems with utilization of composite material. The accumulation of biofilm over these dental
composite resins is a major cause of secondary caries. Antibacterial restorative resins are an
effective option to avoid biofilm accumulation. The aim of this research was to synthesize
novel Diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to modify dental
composite resins utilizing these NPs. The antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of these
composites were evaluated and compared with unmodified composites. Furthermore, these
modified composite resins were assessed for their mechanical and cytotoxic activity. DEAEDextran
AgNPs of mean size i.e., 170nm were successfully synthesized with chemical
reduction method which was confirmed by Ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy,
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta
potential and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Antibacterial activity of modified
composite disc specimens was tested against Streptococcus mutans (S. Mutans), Enterococcus
faecalis (E. Faecalis) and microcosm biofilms. The composite discs prepared with DEAEDextran
AgNPs exhibited excellent antibacterial activity when compared with composite resin
reinforced with simple AgNPs. Also, composite resins with DEAE-Dextran AgNPs exhibited
enhanced antibiofilm properties when compared with the silver modified resin composites
(P<0.05). The mechanical properties were significantly enhanced by the addition of DEAEDextran
into composite resin(P<0.05). Moreover, unlike AgNPs, DEAE-Dextran AgNPs were
less haemolytic. In short, these results established strong ground applications for DEAEDextran
modified dental composite resins.
