Silver nanoparticles: a game changer in dental antibacterial therapy

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to become a leading cause of death in the coming decades.Hence, new methods for development of further generation of antibiotics are urgently needed. Metalloantibiotics are aninfinite, wide and underexplored group of compounds.Inorganic compounds and metal ions have a history of antimicrobial activity and got attention in increase of antimicrobial resistance. Aim: To check the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureuswhen combined with conventional antibiotic used in dentistry. Methodology: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with an average particle size of 5 nm were used in solution form for the study.silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were utilized in solution. Brain Heart Infusion broth was used to cultivate a conventional strain of Staphylococcus aureus, which was then aerobically incubated at 37°C for a whole day. Following centrifugation, the culture was reconstituted in saline and adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standard (≈1 × 10² CFU/mL). A sterile swab was used to produce a bacterial lawn on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. AgNPs alone, antibiotics alone, and antibiotics with AgNPs were the three categories into which the discs were separated. Zones of inhibition were assessed to evaluate antibacterial activity after plates were incubated at 37°C for a whole day. Result: The combination of silver nanoparticles with different antibiotics showed varying inhibition zones. The highest inhibition zone was observed with silver nanoparticles and doxycycline (23.4 mm), while the lowest was with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs)and cephalosporin (15.2 mm). Conclusion: AgNPs may help combat emerging antimicrobial resistance and improve the effectiveness of traditional antimicrobial treatments.