Antimicrobial Activity of Thermocycled Polymethyl Methacrylate Resin Reinforced with Titanium Dioxide and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 2.5% and 7.5% copper oxide (CuO) and titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles on the antimicrobial activity of thermocycled polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base material against standard strains of yeast and bacteria species. . In this in vitro study, 150 disk-shaped (10 × 2 mm) specimens of heat-cured PMMA were prepared and divided into five groups ( = 30) to be reinforced with 2.5% CuO, 7.5% CuO, 2.5% TiO, or 7.5% TiO nanoparticles and a control group (without nanoparticle). The specimens were thermocycled, and their antimicrobial activity was assessed against standard strains of yeast including and and oral bacteria species including , , and . Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests ( = 0.05).

RESULTS

Both concentrations of CuO and TiO nanoparticles had significant antimicrobial activity against , and compared with the control group ( < 0.05). Significant differences existed between both 2.5% ( = 0.006) and 7.5% CuO ( = 0.005) and the control group against . However, TiO groups were not significantly different from the control group against Concerning , 7.5% TiO was the only nanoparticle with significantly higher antimicrobial activity compared with the control group ( = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

Both concentrations of CuO and TiO were effective antimicrobial agents against , and , and the concentration of CuO was effective against . Yet, TiO was not much effective. Regarding , only 7.5% TiO showed efficient antimicrobial activity.