Chitosan Capped Nanoparticles: Potential Antibacterial and Anti-cariogenic Agents

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, chitosan capped nanoparticles are potential antibacterial and anti-cariogenic agents.

This investigation is a vital contribution to the healthcare system by utilizing techniques of nanobiotechnology. It interestingly applies chitosan capped CuO nanoparticles in the field of medicine and restorative dentistry.

Preparation and Characterization

The CuO nanoparticles and CuO-Chitosan nanoparticles are prepared by co-precipitation, and their characterization is performed using:

• X-ray diffraction (XRD)
• Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
• Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX)

Study Results

• The average crystallite size of these nanoparticles has been found to be in the dimensions of <40 nm and <35 nm, respectively.
• CuO-Chitosan nanoparticles show significant enhancement in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic activity as compared to CuO nanoparticles.
• The successful amalgamation of CuO nanoparticles and CuO-Chitosan nanoparticles into dentine bonding agents results in providing an efficient remedy against secondary caries.
• CuO-Chitosan nanoparticles reinforced dental adhesive discs cause a significant upsurge in the reduction of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus mutans.
• Augmentation of mechanical properties, water sorption and solubility plus slow and sustained release profile and slight variation of shear bond strength is attained.

Thus, taken together, the chemically synthesized CuO nanoparticles and CuO-Chitosan nanoparticles have proven to be promising candidates having enormous potential to be utilized in drug delivery and nanotheranostics.

Conclusion

• Capping of CuO nanoparticles with chitosan alters their physico-chemical and biological properties.
• Significant enhancement of cytotoxicity, antidiabetic activity, and antioxidation power has been elucidated.
• Chitosan capped nanoparticles have been declared potential antibacterial and anticariogenic agents.
• Considerable improvement of mechanical features of dental adhesives has been attained.

Reference

Chitosan capping of CuO nanoparticles: Facile chemical preparation, biological analysis, and applications in dentistry by Rabia Javed et al. published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.11.099