ESTUDO DO POTENCIAL MICROBIOLÓGICO DE NANOCRISTAIS HÍBRIDOS DE ZnO DOPADOS COM AgO

Nanotechnology provides new strategies in odontological treatment and preventive dentistry. The size and crystallinity of the Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles affect the biocompatibility, genotoxicity and antimicrobial potential of the biomaterials. Thus, we investigated the antibacterial effect of doped ZnO nanocrystals in different concentrations of Silver oxide (AgO). We used XRD-6000 diffractometer to determine the structure and mean size of the crystals. Next, we carried out a bacterial inhibition growth assay using Prevotella Intermedia (ATCC® 25611), cultured in Schaedler agar in presence of discs containing the nanocrystals in different concentrations (ZnO: 3Ag, ZnO: 5Ag, ZnO: 7Ag, ZnO: 9Ag, ZnO: 11Ag) for three days. We measured the inhibition of the bacterium growth by the formation of rings in the culture using a digital caliper. The results of XRD standards confirm the formation of crystalline nanoparticles. Our results indicate that the bacterial growth inhibition is ZnO:Ag nanocrystals concentration dependent, and the optimal inhibition activity is at ZnO:9Ag. In this concentration, the nanocrystals showed statistically highest inhibition in the P. intermedia growth inhibition when compared to the other concentrations tested.