Antibacterial Activity of Curcumin-loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles against Streptococcus mutans

Introduction Streptococcus mutans is an important contributor to tooth decay. Curcumin exhibits minimal side effects and has broad applications in various antimicrobial research. Although curcumin derivatives have a wide range of medical effects, their inherent physicochemical parameters, such as poor water solubility, chemical instability, low bioavailability, short half-life, and rapid metabolism, make their medicinal use challenging. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems can enhance the efficacy of curcumin in treating several diseases, especially infectious diseases. This present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effect of curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Cur-MSNs) on S. mutans and their biofilm form and adhesion. Recently, novel approaches have been utilized to overcome pharmacological issues and increase the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin. Among them, nanoformulation has been reported as an innovative and developing technology to overcome these limitations. Methods In the present study, the antibacterial, biofilm inhibitory, and anti-adherence activities of free curcumin, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), and Cur-MSNs were assessed against S. mutans . Results The results showed that Cur-MSNs demonstrated more antibacterial effects against S. mutans than free curcumin and MSNs ( p <0.05). The MICs spectrum of Cur-MSNs, free curcumin, and MSNs was 128 µg/mL, 512 µg/mL, and 1024 µg/mL, respectively. The biofilm inhibitory effect of Cur-MSNs was 32 times more than free curcumin ( p <0.05). The bacteria adhesion after 12 hours in Cur-MSNs was significantly reduced compared with free curcumin and MSNs. Conclusion The antibacterial activity of curcumin increased by its nanoformulation. These results indicated that Cur-MSNs possess potential anti-cariogenic and anti-plaque properties, warranting further investigation through in vivo experiments and clinical studies.