Antibacterial Properties of Aqueous Colloid Solutions of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles against Dental Plaque Bacteria

Abstract

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are considered a basis for the development of antibacterial agents of new generation. Dental drugs are among the promising fields of their application. Experimental samples are obtained and microbiological studies are carried out with the dental plaque microflora and aqueous solutions of Fe₃O₄, SnO, ZnO, Ag, and Cu nanoparticles 10–100 nm in size and with a mass concentration of 1.53–10.12 mg/L. The study of the effect of colloid solutions on the culture of dental plaque microflora shows that the antibacterial properties predominantly depend on the chemical composition of the particles of the dispersed phase. Dispersed systems containing magnetite with an initial concentration of 2.11 mg/L, as well as silver (2.39 mg/L), copper (2.07 mg/L), and zinc oxide (7.03 mg/L), prove to be the most efficient ones. The results of this study may be used to develop promising mouth rinse and other antibacterial drugs based on aqueous solutions of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles.