Synthesis of Copper Nanowires and Their Antimicrobial Activity on Strains Isolated Persistent Endodontic Infections

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Microbiology

Background:

• Endodontic treatment often faces challenges with persistent bacterial infections in the root canal system.
• Copper nanowires (Cu-NWs) are being explored for their potential antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize copper nanowires (Cu-NWs).
• To evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cu-NWs against clinical strains from human root canals.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Cu-NWs with controlled dimensions (30-90 nm diameter, 5-40 μm length).
• Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction to confirm crystalline structure and growth direction.
• Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing to determine antibacterial efficacy.
• Assessment of cellular viability in biofilms upon exposure to Cu-NWs.

Main Results:

• Cu-NWs exhibited a crystalline structure corresponding to copper, with preferential [110] growth.
• Geometric mean MICs were 289.30 μg/mL, with MIC50 of 256 μg/mL and MIC90 of 512 μg/mL.
• Cu-NWs demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in cellular viability within biofilms.

Conclusions:

• Synthesized Cu-NWs possess significant antimicrobial activity against clinical root canal bacterial strains.
• Cu-NWs show promise as a novel agent for disinfecting the root canal system.
• Further research into Cu-NWs could lead to improved endodontic treatment outcomes.