Modified Polymeric Nanoparticles Exert In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Against Oral Bacteria.

Polymeric nanoparticles were modified to exert antimicrobial activity against oral bacteria. Nanoparticles were loaded with calcium, zinc and doxycycline. Ions and doxycycline release were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer and high performance liquid chromatography. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Lactobacillus lactis, Streptoccocus mutans, gordonii and sobrinus were grown and the number of bacteria was determined by optical density. Nanoparticles were suspended in PBS at 10, 1 and 0.1 mg/mL and incubated with 1.0 ml of each bacterial suspension for 3, 12, and 24 hours. The bacterial viability was assessed by determining their ability to cleave the tetrazolium salt to a formazan dye. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Scheffe’s F (p