The Antimicrobial Effects of Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid)/Xylitol Nanoparticles on Microorganisms Causing Dental Caries (In Vitro Study)

Abstract Background: Many people all around the world suffer from tooth decay, a chronic infectious disease that can lead to tooth loss. Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are typical microorganisms involved in the caries process. Nanotechnology is one of the most exciting new developments in dentistry and can be used in the prevention of tooth. Xylitol’s antimicrobial action can be enhanced by loading it onto poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid, or PLGA) nanoparticles. Objective: The purpose of study this is to evaluate the effectiveness of PLGA/xylitol nanoparticles as an antimicrobial agent on microorganisms causing dental caries. Materials and Methods: Samples from pure isolates of the bacteria and candida were kept in nutrient agar in a fridge until needed for the investigation. The antimicrobial activity of PLGA/xylitol nanoparticles produced using solvent evaporation was evaluated. Using the agar well diffusion method, we evaluated the sensitivity of S. mutans and C. albicans to various concentrations of nanoparticles with that of a positive control [chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2%] and a negative control (de-ionized water). The zone of inhibition is measured across the diameter of each well. A serial dilution method was used to establish the minimum inhibitory concentration of nanoparticles against S. mutans and C. albicans and then determined minimum bactericidal concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration. Results: The results demonstrated the effectiveness of PLGA/xylitol nanoparticles in preventing bacterial and fungal development. As the concentration of nanoparticles increased, the diameter of zones of inhibition against S. mutans and C. albicans grew. Mean values of inhibition zones for S. mutans at 7.5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% were greater than CHX 0.2%. Nonetheless, for Candida, the mean values of inhibitory zones are still lower than CHX 0.2% at all concentrations with a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: PLGA/xylitol nanoparticles are effective in preventing the growth of the microorganisms responsible for tooth caries. Although it is effective against S. mutans , its impact on C. albicans is much lower. The synergistic action of xylitol and PLGA nanoparticles could be responsible for this antimicrobial activity. This treatment could be considered as a way of preventing dental caries.