The Antibiofilm Activity and Mechanism of Nanosilver- and Nanozinc-Incorporated Mesoporous Calcium-Silicate Nanoparticles

• Main Authors: Leng D, Li Y, Zhu J, Liang R, Zhang C, Zhou Y, Li M, Wang Y, Rong D, Wu D, Li J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Nanomedicine
• Subjects: antibacterial mechanism; antibiofilm; mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles; silver; zinc
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/the-antibiofilm-activity-and-mechanism-of-nanosilver--and-nanozinc-inc-peer-reviewed-article-IJN

Diya Leng,1,2,* Yan Li,3,* Jie Zhu,4 Ruizhen Liang,1,5 Cuifeng Zhang,1,2 Yang Zhou,1,2 Mingming Li,1,2 Ying Wang,1,2 Di Rong,1,2 Daming Wu,1,2 Jin Li1,6 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endodontics, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of the Seventh Clinic, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Oral Special Consultation, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Daming WuJiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, 136 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail] LiJiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles (MCSNs) have good prospects in the medical field due to their great physicochemical characteristics, antibacterial activity and drug delivery capacity. This study was to analyze the antibiofilm activity and mechanisms of silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn) incorporated MCSNs (Ag/Zn-MCSNs) with different percentages of Ag and Zn.Methods: Ag/Zn(1:9, molar ratio)-MCSNs and Ag/Zn(9:1, molar ratio)-MCSNs were prepared and characterized. Endocytosis of nanoparticles by Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) treated with Ag/Zn-MCSNs was observed using TEM to explore the antibacterial mechanisms. The antibiofilm activity of Ag/Zn-MCSNs with different ratios of Ag and Zn was tested by E. faecalis biofilm model in human roots. The human roots pretreated by different Ag/Zn-MCSNs were cultured with E. faecalis. Then, SEM and CLSM were used to observe the survival of E. faecalis on the root canal wall. Cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was tested by CCK8 kits.Results: The Ag/Zn-MCSNs release Ag+ and destroy the cell membranes to kill bacteria. The MCSNs containing Ag showed antibacterial activity against E. faecalis biofilms in different degrees, and they can adhere to dentin surfaces to get a continuous antibacterial effect. However, MTA, MCSNs and Zn-MCSNs could not disrupt the bacterial biofilms obviously. MCSNs, Ag/Zn(1:1, molar ratio)-MCSNs and Ag/Zn(1:9)-MCSNs showed no obvious cytotoxicity, while Ag-MCSNs and Ag/Zn(9:1)-MCSNs showed cytotoxicity. Zn-MCSNs can slightly promote cell proliferation.Conclusion: Ag/Zn-MCSNs have good antibiofilm activity. They might achieve an appropriate balance between the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity by adjusting the ratio of Ag and Zn. Ag/Zn-MCSNs are expected to be a new type of root canal disinfectant or sealer for root canal treatment.Keywords: antibacterial mechanism, antibiofilm, mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles, silver, zinc