DOI: 10.4103/ijds.ijds_178_25 ISSN: 0976-4003

Antibacterial Efficacy and Demineralization Potential of Silver Nanoparticles and Chitosan as Root Canal Irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis – An In vitro Study

A. Bakkiyalakshmi, Dhanavel Chakravarthy, S. Vijayaraja, M. Kirthiga, K. T. Manoj, J. M. Harshavardhan
Show PDF Cite

Abstract

Background:

Effective disinfection of the root canal is a critical factor in the success of endodontic therapy, particularly with regard to the elimination of persistent microorganisms such as Enterococcus faecalis . While traditional irrigants aid in microbial reduction, their potential to demineralize dentin can compromise structural integrity. The recent advancements have introduced nanoparticle-based irrigants, such as chitosan and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which offer antimicrobial and chelating properties with potentially less demineralization.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the antibacterial efficacy and dentin demineralization effects of chitosan nanoparticles, AgNPs, and saline against E. faecalis biofilms.

Methodology:

Thirty extracted human maxillary central incisors were decoronated and instrumented to a size #60. Biofilms of E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) were effectively developed on these samples, which were subsequently assigned to three groups, each containing 10 specimens ( n = 10 per group): Group I – 2% chitosan nanoparticles, Group II – 100 ppm AgNPs, and Group III – saline as a control. Irrigation was performed using 3 mL of each solution for 5 min. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed by colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and real-time polymerase chain reaction. For demineralization analysis, 30 similarly prepared teeth were immersed in 2 mL of the respective irrigants for 5 min, and phosphorus release was measured using an automated biochemistry analyzer (Hitachi 917).

Statistical Analysis Used:

The data underwent one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test, with statistical significance established at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:

Chitosan nanoparticles showed the highest phosphorus release (23.89), indicating greater demineralization, followed by AgNPs (9.81) and saline (0.97). In terms of antibacterial activity, chitosan exhibited the lowest CFU count (3020), followed by AgNPs (5500) and saline (17380). Statistically significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05) were detected among the groups for both parameters evaluated.

Conclusion:

Chitosan nanoparticles demonstrated superior antibacterial activity against E. faecalis compared to AgNPs and saline, but were also associated with the highest level of dentin demineralization. AgNPs showed a favorable balance between antimicrobial efficacy and dentin preservation. Further studies are needed to optimize their clinical use.

More from our Archive