Abstract

Rafid J. Al-Badr, Hussain F. Al-Huwaizi.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Chi-IONP) by agar direct diffusion method and determine the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) of this nano-solution against E.faecalis, S.mutans and Candida albicans the three oral microorganisms commonly isolated from endodontic infections.
Methods: The nanoparticles solution was prepared by functionalizing the 8nm iron oxide nanoparticles with glycine and coating them by chitosan dissolved in 0.25% v/v acetic acid. E.faecalis, S.mutans and candida albicans were isolated and identified with Vitek 2 system. Agar diffusion method was used to test three groups of materials, NaOCl 5.25% serve as positive control, 0.25% Acetic acid as negative control and Chi-IONP as experimental material. Broth microdilution method used to determine the MIC/MBC of the experimental material.
Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was conducted by independent variables t-test performed by using IBM-SPSS program version 22.
Result: The used microbial isolates were confirmed with Vitek 2 system with excellent confidence level of diagnosis. Chi-IONP showed antifungal activity higher than NaOCl 5.25%, and comparable effect to NaOCl 5.25% against E.faecalis and S.mutans. The negative group showed no effect on the tested microorganisms. The MIC/MBC were determined as following 125/250 µg/ml for E.faecalis, 250/ 500 µg/ml for S.mutans and the MIC/MFC was 62.5/ 125 µg/ml for C.albicans.
Conclusion: Chi-IONP was a powerful antimicrobial agent against the tested microorganisms, and this test results shows antifungal activity of Chi-IONP higher than NaOCl 5.25% and comparable antibacterial effect to NaOCl 5.25%.