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Polydopamine-Functionalized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as a Root Canal Sealer: Characterization, Biological, and
Arul Nayagi Raj1, Aditya Shetty1, Lakshmi Nidhi Rao1
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, 575018, Karnataka, India, nitte.edu.in.
Background:
Polydopamine (PDA) exhibits superior adhesion and notable bioactive characteristics, such as antimicrobial activity and favorable biocompatibility with host tissues, while zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have proved to provide antibacterial and remineralizing properties. Combining these benefits, PDA with ZnO NP (PDA@ZnO NP) could offer superior antimicrobial activity, adhesion, and biocompatibility, possibly making it a promising alternative to conventional sealers like AH Plus (Dentsply Sirona, Germany) and zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) (Prevest DenPro Limited, India).
Aim:
An effort has been made in this study to assess and compare the physicochemical properties, sealing efficiency, antibacterial potential, and biocompatibility of PDA@ZnO NP-based root canal sealer with conventional AH Plus and ZOE sealers.
Materials And Methods:
The PDA@ZnO NP sealer was synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. Physicochemical properties, including setting time, flow, pH, radiopacity, sealing ability, and biological properties such as biocompatibility and antibacterial property against Prevotella intermedia, were assessed and compared with AH Plus and ZOE sealers. The sealer penetration was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A comparison among the 3 groups was conducted using ANOVA and then by Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test for post hoc multiple comparisons.
Results:
The PDA@ZnO NP sealer exhibited superior dentinal tubule penetration, enhanced adhesion, and strong antibacterial properties compared with AH Plus and ZOE; statistical tests showed significant differences among groups for sealing ability and antibacterial activity (p < 0.05). Cytotoxicity assays indicated that PDA@ZnO NP and AH Plus had comparable cytocompatibility (pairwise p > 0.05), while ZOE showed a transiently lower viability at 24 h (84.3%, p < 0.05 vs. control).
Conclusion:
The outcomes of this study highlighted that the PDA@ZnO NP sealer demonstrated superior sealing ability, enhanced dentinal tubule penetration, and favorable cytocompatibility, comparable to AH Plus and more favorable than ZOE at early timepoints. It also showed strong antibacterial efficacy and improved physicochemical properties. These findings suggest that PDA@ZnO NP sealer may serve as a promising alternative for clinical endodontic applications, potentially contributing to improved treatment outcomes and long-term success in root canal therapy.
