Evaluation of Deformation and Antibacterial Properties of Dental Alginates Mixed with Silver Nanoparticles

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of 5.57 nm size into dental alginates on their deformation and antimicrobial properties. Six experimental groups were prepared: 2 different alginates with 0.25 wt% AgNPs, 2 different alginates with 0.5 wt% AgNPs (5.57 nm), and 2 unmodified control alginate groups. The presence of AgNPs was confirmed using X-ray diffraction analysis with a Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method (direct contact) against E. coli and S. aureus cultures incubated on Mueller-Hinton (M-H) agar at 37 °C for 24 h. The results demonstrated that the addition of 0.25% and 0.5% AgNPs significantly enhanced the antimicrobial properties of alginate (p < 0.05), showing clear inhibition zones against the tested microorganisms. In terms of mechanical properties, AgNPs-modified samples exhibited improved elastic recovery compared to the control group (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that incorporating silver nanoparticles into alginates could enhance their antimicrobial properties without compromising the mechanical integrity required for dental applications.