Toxicology of antimicrobial nanoparticlesfor prosthetic devices

Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology are producing an accelerated proliferation of new nanomaterial composites that are likely to become an important source of engineered health-related products. Nanoparticles with antifungal effects are of great interest in the formulation of microbicidal materials. Fungi are found as innocuous commensals and colonize various habitats in and on humans, especially the skin and mucosa. As growth on surfaces is a natural part of the Candida spp. lifestyle, one can expect that Candida organisms colonize prosthetic devices, such as dentures. Macromolecular systems, due to their properties, allow efficient use of these materials in various fields, including the creation of reinforced nanoparticle polymers with antimicrobial activity. This review briefly summarizes the results of studies conducted during the past decade and especially in the last few years focused on the toxicity of different antimicrobial polymers and factors influencing their activities, as well as the main applications of antimicrobial polymers in dentistry. The present study addresses aspects that are often overlooked in nanotoxicology studies, such as careful time-dependent characterization of agglomeration and ion release.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Cytotoxicity and Release from Newly Formed PMMA–ZnO Nanocomposites Designed for Denture Bases

“…These results are similar to that achieved by Paszek et al [52], at which the cytotoxic effect on human endothelial cells of blood vessels were observed at the ZnO NPs concentration of 30 mg/L. Numerous studies indicate that the MTT assay may underestimate a compound’s cytotoxicity by overestimating the cell viability, and therefore cytotoxicity testing by the MTT assay should be supported by another assay to analyze possible toxicological effects of nanocompounds [57]. Accordingly, microscopic imaging of the HeLa cells treated with ZnO NPs was performed.…”

“…Simultaneously with the MTT assay, microscopic imaging of the HeLa cells treated with ZnO NPs was performed. These microscopic observations were performed to verify the results of the MTT assay, which may be unreliable in the case of the cytotoxicity studies of some nanoparticles [57]. The microscopic observation revealed that the morphology of the cells and the structure of the cell monolayer did not differ in the control group and the cells treated with 1, 6, 10, 20, and 30 mg/L ZnO NPs (Figure 3).…”

Nanoparticles as potential new generation broad spectrum antimicrobial agents

“…As stated in previous sections of this review paper, NPs facilitate the penetration and delivery of antimicrobial agents into biological membranes including microbial cells, thereby enhancing and increasing biological activities [ 76 , 113 ]. This means that the toxicity of different NP-antimicrobial polymers needs a time-dependent understanding and characterization [ 125 ]. Generally, antimicrobial agents’ biocompatibility inhibition cannot occur without producing some undesirable health effects, either local or systemic.…”

Monomer modifications of denture base acrylic resin: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The advances in polymer technology have produced novel polymers such as high-impact polymers and fiber-reinforced polymers with improved impact strength and fatigue resistance. The polymer modifications are achieved either by incorporating additives such as rubber,[10] styrene-butadiene,[11] Al 2 O 3 ,[12] and β-AgVO 3 [13] or by adding inorganic fillers such as metallic oxides,[14] fluorinated glass fillers,[15] hydroxyapatite whiskers,[16] zirconia,[17] and organic fibers[18] of carbon/graphite, aramid, ultra-high modulus polyethylene, nylon, and jute. Reviews of studies regarding the polymeric modifications are available in the dental literature.…”