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Published on: June 7, 2024
Enhancing Dental Alginate with Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale and Green Silver Nanoparticles: A
Lamia Singer1,2, Leonie Beuter1, Sabina Karacic3
1Oral Technology, Dental School, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, 53111 Bonn, Germany.
Objectives:
The study addresses the challenge of cross-infection in dentistry, focusing on improving disinfection protocols for dental hydrocolloid gel materials. This research aimed to incorporate chlorhexidine, natural plant extracts, and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into dental alginate to enhance safety and hygiene standards in dental practices.
Methods:
Conventional dental alginate served as the control, with experimental groups including alginate modified with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX-group) and alginate incorporating AgNPs synthesized from Syzygium aromaticum (SA) and Zingiber officinale (ZO) extracts (SA + AgNPs and ZO + AgNPs groups). Plant extracts were analyzed via GC/MS to confirm their composition. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX characterized the synthesized AgNPs. Antimicrobial efficacy against Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, and methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated using agar well diffusion assays. The dimensional accuracy of alginate impressions was assessed according to ISO 21563:2021 standards.
Results:
Chemical analysis of SA and ZO extracts identified 60 and 43 active compounds, respectively, supporting their use in AgNP synthesis. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX confirmed the formation of spherical AgNPs using SA and ZO extracts. Modified groups showed inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), in contrast to the unmodified control. Both AgNP-modified groups demonstrated efficacy comparable to the CHX-group against MRSA and MSSA, with SA + AgNP showing superior performance against C. albicans. The dimensional accuracy of all groups was within clinically acceptable ranges as reported in the literature (0.027-0.083 mm).
Discussion:
CHX, silver nitrate, and green-synthesized AgNPs present promising options for developing self-disinfecting alginate impression materials. Utilizing plant extracts in AgNP synthesis offers a safe, efficient, and synergistic approach between metal ions and phytotherapeutic agents. This approach could potentially enhance disinfection efficacy without compromising material performance, improving dental safety and hygiene.
