International Journal of Nanomedicine (Apr 2020)
The Antibacterial Mechanism of Silver Nanoparticles and Its Application in Dentistry
Abstract
Iris Xiaoxue Yin,1,2 Jing Zhang,3 Irene Shuping Zhao,1 May Lei Mei,4 Quanli Li,3 Chun Hung Chu2 1School of Dentistry, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China; 2Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; 3College of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China; 4Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Otago, New ZealandCorrespondence: Irene Shuping ZhaoSchool of Dentistry, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 18823781964Email [email protected] Hung ChuFaculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +852 2859 0287Fax +852 2858 2532, Email [email protected]: Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a rapidly growing field with numerous biomedical science applications. At the same time, silver has been adopted as an antimicrobial material and disinfectant that is relatively free of adverse effects. Silver nanoparticles possess a broad spectrum of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Silver nanoparticles have the ability to penetrate bacterial cell walls, changing the structure of cell membranes and even resulting in cell death. Their efficacy is due not only to their nanoscale size but also to their large ratio of surface area to volume. They can increase the permeability of cell membranes, produce reactive oxygen species, and interrupt replication of deoxyribonucleic acid by releasing silver ions. Researchers have studied silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents in dentistry. For instance, silver nanoparticles can be incorporated into acrylic resins for fabrication of removable dentures in prosthetic treatment, composite resin in restorative treatment, irrigating solution and obturation material in endodontic treatment, adhesive materials in orthodontic treatment, membrane for guided tissue regeneration in periodontal treatment, and titanium coating in dental implant treatment. Although not all authorities have acknowledged the safety of silver nanoparticles, no systemic toxicity of ingested silver nanoparticles has been reported. A broad concern is their potential hazard if they are released into the environment. However, the interaction of nanoparticles with toxic materials and organic compounds can either increase or reduce their toxicity. This paper provides an overview of the antibacterial use of silver nanoparticles in dentistry, highlighting their antibacterial mechanism, potential applications and safety in clinical treatment.Keywords: antibacterial, dentistry, nanoparticles, nanotechnology, silver
