Evaluation of the re-mineralization capacity of a gold nanoparticle-based dental varnish: An in vitro study

K Ajith Kamath; Iffat Nasim; S Rajeshkumar

doi:10.4103/JCD.JCD_315_20

Evaluation of the re-mineralization capacity of a gold nanoparticle-based dental varnish: An in vitro study

J Conserv Dent. 2020 Jul-Aug;23(4):390-394. doi: 10.4103/JCD.JCD_315_20. Epub 2021 Jan 16.

Authors

K Ajith Kamath¹, Iffat Nasim¹, S Rajeshkumar²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
² Department of Pharmacology and Nanomedicine, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is an infectious microbial disease caused by acidogenic bacteria. It leads to the dissolution of enamel, dentin, and cementum. Enamel demineralization is often appreciated as' 'White Chalky lesions or Chalky enamel''. Standard procedures for protection of these teeth are fissure sealing and topical fluoride application. A varnish is generally a material in which a resin such as copal is dissolved within an organic solvent such as ethanol. Gold is one of the most biocompatible dental materials. Gold nanoparticles were biosynthesised using aspartic acid in previous studies.

Aim and objectives: To prepare a gold nanoparticle based dental varnish and to evaluate its re-mineralizing capacity.

Materials and methods: Gold nanoparticle dental varnish was prepared using all the necessary constituents. This newly prepared dental varnish was compared with G.C Fuji/SnF2 dental varnish. Demineralizing capacity of the dental varnishes were analysed. The tooth specimens were prepared according to methodology and mounted on resin blocks. They were subjected to demineralization remineralization cycles. ICP-OES and Knoop Hardness tests were performed.

Results: AuNP dental varnish had a satisfactory remineralization effect on demineralised enamel. For calcium analysis, the AuNP group showed significantly more total calcium loss when compared to the SnF2 group (P < 0.05) and was statistically significant. For phosphorus analysis, AuNP group showed significantly greater net phosphorus loss compared to the SnF2 group (P < 0.05) and was statistically significant. It was also observed that the KHN increased more significantly in Group A (SnF2) as compared to Group B (AuNP) and was also statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: AuNP dental varnish showed considerable re mineralizing property; however, it was not superior to dental varnishes like SnF2 dental varnish. Further research needs to be done in vitro to better modify the AuNP dental varnish before proceeding to in vivo studies.

Keywords: Caries; Dental Varnish; Enamel Caries; Gold nanoparticle; Incipient lesion; Initial Caries; Remineralization.