article · BMC Oral Health
Dental pathogens contribute to gum disease, tooth decay, and serious oral infections, with growing evidence linking them to oral cancer development. Increasing antibiotic resistance makes treating these conditions increasingly difficult. To tackle this challenge, zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with piperine were synthesised and evaluated in the laboratory. Testing demonstrated that these hybrid nanoparticles display substantial antioxidant activity and clear antimicrobial action against dental pathogens, inhibiting growth at low concentrations. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exhibited high binding affinity to oral pathogens and produced dose-dependent anticancer effects when tested on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. These anticancer effects occurred alongside the upregulation of genes involved in programmed cell death, including BCL2, BAX, and P53. Although offering a multifaceted approach for oral healthcare, questions surrounding biocompatibility, toxicity, and safety require further investigation.
Persistent oral infections and emerging antimicrobial resistance create significant hurdles in dental health, particularly given potential links between oral pathogens and cancer progression. Developing dual-action therapies that simultaneously combat harmful bacteria and target cancerous cells could provide valuable alternatives to standard antibiotics and improve the treatment of complex oral diseases.
The findings could ultimately inform the design of dual-action therapeutics for dental clinicians and oncology specialists treating oral infections and cancers. The technology remains at an early laboratory stage, tested only in vitro. Real-world use is distant, as significant research is still required to address critical concerns regarding nanoparticle toxicity, biocompatibility, and long-term safety before clinical translation can proceed.
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BACKGROUND: Dental pathogens play a crucial role in oral health issues, including tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections, and recent research suggests a link between these pathogens and oral cancer initiation and progression. Innovative therapeutic approaches are needed due to antibiotic resistance concerns and treatment limitations. METHODS: We synthesized and analyzed piperine-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-PIP NPs) using UV spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, FTIR, and EDAX. Antioxidant and antimicrobial effectiveness were evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, and MIC assays, while the anticancer properties were assessed on KB oral squamous carcinoma cells. RESULTS: ZnO-PIP NPs exhibited significant antioxidant activity and a MIC of 50 µg/mL against dental pathogens, indicating strong antimicrobial properties. Interaction analysis revealed high binding affinity with dental pathogens. ZnO-PIP NPs showed dose-dependent anticancer activity on KB cells, upregulating apoptotic genes BCL2, BAX, and P53. CONCLUSIONS: This approach offers a multifaceted solution to combatting both oral infections and cancer, showcasing their potential for significant advancement in oral healthcare. It is essential to acknowledge potential limitations and challenges associated with the use of ZnO NPs in clinical applications. These may include concerns regarding nanoparticle toxicity, biocompatibility, and long-term safety. Further research and rigorous testing are warranted to address these issues and ensure the safe and effective translation of ZnO-PIP NPs into clinical practice.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04399-z
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