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An innovative approach to treating dental decay in children. A new anti-caries agent

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Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of a formulation containing silver nanoparticles and chitosan, provisionally called nano silver fluoride (NSF), against Streptococcus mutans in comparison to chlorhexidine and silver diamine fluoride (SDF). The product was characterised by transmission electron microscopy and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was evaluated by the spectrophotometric microdilution method and turbidity. The minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) was evaluated in brain heart infusion plates, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by haemolytic activity. The MIC and MBC for NSF were, respectively, 33.54 ± 14.52 and 50.32 µg/mL; for SDF were 33.33 ± 14.43 and 50.0 µg/mL, respectively; and for CHX were 3.3 ± 0.5 and 6 µg/mL, respectively. An ANOVA for MIC gave P = 0.032, and for MBC P = 0.035. The cytotoxic effect of NSF compared to SDF demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the MIC value (t test P < 0.05). The NSF formulation may be effective against S. mutans with much lower doses, may have lower toxicity than SDF, and may not stain teeth.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank CAPES, the Brazilian Ministry of Education, CNPq and the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology for financial support. We also express our gratitude to Dr. Marcia Mayer (USP, Brazil) and Leonardo Cruz (USP, Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pernambuco, Av: Gal. Newton Cavalcanti nº 1650, Camaragibe, PE, CEP 54 753-020, Brazil

    Andréa Gadelha Ribeiro Targino, Valdeci Elias dos Santos Junior, Fabiana de Godoy Bené Bezerra & Aronita Rosenblatt

  2. Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Miguel Angel Pelagio Flores & André Galembeck

  3. Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Biological Science, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil

    Hilzeth de Luna Freire

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  1. Andréa Gadelha Ribeiro Targino
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  3. Valdeci Elias dos Santos Junior
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  4. Fabiana de Godoy Bené Bezerra
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Correspondence to Andréa Gadelha Ribeiro Targino.

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Targino, A.G.R., Flores, M.A.P., dos Santos Junior, V.E. et al. An innovative approach to treating dental decay in children. A new anti-caries agent. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 25, 2041–2047 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-014-5221-5

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