Nanoparticles in dental biomaterials and their antimicrobial effect. A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24265/kiru.2025.v22n3.05Keywords:
Biomaterials; Nanoparticles; Drug Resistance, BacterialAbstract
The objective of this literature review is to compile evidence on the aggregation of nanoparticles in dental biomaterials and their antimicrobial effect. A systematic search was conducted across academic databases, including SciELO, PubMed, and Google Scholar, applying search filters to select 25 scientific articles published within the last eight years. Inclusion criteria prioritized studies published in Spanish or English since 2016, while excluding non-scientific sources and undated publications. Nanoparticles, particularly silver-based variants, enhance the antimicrobial properties of dental biomaterials, demonstrating efficacy against cariogenic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans. Their use in dental treatments may mitigate infection risks. Nanoparticles represent a promising approach for developing more resistant and biocompatible biomaterials. Their antimicrobial action could aid in preventing infections in dental procedures. However, further research is required to better understand the mechanisms of action of nanoparticles in the oral environment and their safety in long-term clinical applications.
Downloads
References
Armijos Briones M, Vaca Altamirano G, Moreano Moreano R, Torres Nieto N. Smart biomaterials used in dentistry. Archivos Venezolanos de Farmacologia y Terapeutica. 2022 Jan 1;41(1).
Bapat RA, Joshi CP, Bapat P, Chaubal T V., Pandurangappa R, Jnanendrappa N, et al. The use of nanoparticles as biomaterials in dentistry. Vol. 24, Drug Discovery Today. Elsevier Ltd; 2019. p. 85–98.
Alvarracin-Baculima M, Cuenca-León K, Pacheco-Quito EM. Antimicrobial Nanoparticles in Dentistry: State of the art. Archivos Venezolanos de Farmacologia y Terapeutica. 2021;40(8):839–47.
Song W, Ge S. Application of antimicrobial nanoparticles in dentistry. Vol. 24, Molecules. MDPI AG; 2019.
Molina G, Palma S. Nanotecnología en Odontología: Aspectos generales y posibles aplicaciones. Methodo Investigación Aplicada a las Ciencias Biológicas. 2018 Sep 24;3(3):59–66.
Capuano N, Amato A, Dell’Annunziata F, Giordano F, Folliero V, Di Spirito F, et al. Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Application in Endodontics. Vol. 12, Antibiotics. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI); 2023.
Vargas-Ruíz DE, Serrano-Díaz PN, Hernández-Gómez G, Acosta-Torres LS. Tendencias en regeneración periodontal con el uso de nanopartículas: revisión sistemática de la literatura. Mundo Nano Revista Interdisciplinaria en Nanociencias y Nanotecnología. 2022 Sep 21;16(30):1e–12e.
Sreenivasalu PKP, Dora CP, Swami R, Jasthi VC, Shiroorkar PN, Nagaraja S, et al. Nanomaterials in Dentistry: Current Applications and Future Scope. Vol. 12, Nanomaterials. MDPI; 2022.
Zhu T, Huang Z, Shu X, Zhang C, Dong Z, Peng Q. Functional nanomaterials and their potentials in antibacterial treatment of dental caries. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2022 Oct 1;218:112761.
A I O Ibrahim , D S Moodley,L Petrik,N Patel. Use of antibacterial nanoparticles in Endodontics. SADJ [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2024 Sep 10];Vol 72 No. 3. Available from: http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0011-85162017000300002&lng=en.
Zhang XF, Liu ZG, Shen W, Gurunathan S. Silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, properties, applications, and therapeutic approaches. Vol. 17, International Journal of Molecular Sciences. MDPI AG; 2016.
Jandt KD, Watts DC. Nanotechnology in dentistry: Present and future perspectives on dental nanomaterials. Vol. 36, Dental Materials. Elsevier Inc.; 2020. p. 1365–78.
Shaddox LM. Nanoparticles in Dentistry: Evidence and Future. Am J Biomed Sci Res. 2020 Apr 16;8(4):321–3.
Schmalz G, Hickel R, van Landuyt KL, Reichl FX. Scientific update on nanoparticles in dentistry. Vol. 68, International Dental Journal. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2018. p. 299–305.
Jiang H, Li L, Li Z, Chu X. Metal-based nanoparticles in antibacterial application in biomedical field: Current development and potential mechanisms. Vol. 26, Biomedical Microdevices. Springer; 2024.
Missier MS. Application of nanoparticles in Dentistry. Bioinformation. 2023 Jan 31;19(1):14–8.
Patricia Betancur Henao C, Hernández Montes V, Buitrago Sierra R. Nanopartículas para materiales antibacterianos y aplicaciones del dióxido de titanio Nanoparticles for antibacterial materials and titanium dioxide applications [Internet]. Vol. 35, Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomédicas. 2016. Available from: http://scielo.sld.cu
Yin IX, Zhang J, Zhao IS, Mei ML, Li Q, Chu CH. The antibacterial mechanism of silver nanoparticles and its application in dentistry. Vol. 15, International Journal of Nanomedicine. Dove Medical Press Ltd.; 2020. p. 2555–62.
Vimbela G V., Ngo SM, Fraze C, Yang L, Stout DA. Antibacterial properties and toxicity from metallic nanomaterials. Vol. 12, International Journal of Nanomedicine. Dove Medical Press Ltd.; 2017. p. 3941–65.
Barrantes Murillo C, Ortega Oviedo G. Nanopartículas y antibióticos: respuesta a la resistencia global bacteriana Nanoparticles and antibiotics: response to the bacterial global resistance.
Guevara Ruiz LM, Bonilla Valladares PM, Caicedo Breedy MF. Actividad antimicrobiana de adhesivo ortodóntico con nanopartículas de plata sobre Streptococcus mutans. Odontologia (Lima) [Internet]. 2020 Jul 1;22(2):33–44. Available from: http://revistadigital.uce.edu.ec/index.php/odontologia/article/view/2383/2363
Gopal J, Chun S, Anthonydhason V, Jung S, Mwang’ombe BN, Muthu M, et al. Assays Evaluating Antimicrobial Activity of Nanoparticles: A Myth Buster. J Clust Sci. 2018 Mar 1;29(2):207–13.
Bhaisare ML, Wu BS, Wu MC, Khan MS, Tseng MH, Wu HF. MALDI MS analysis, disk diffusion and optical density measurements for the antimicrobial effect of zinc oxide nanorods integrated in graphene oxide nanostructures. Biomater Sci. 2016 Jan 1;4(1):183–94.
Yudaev P, Chuev V, Klyukin B, Kuskov A, Mezhuev Y, Chistyakov E. Polymeric Dental Nanomaterials: Antimicrobial Action. Vol. 14, Polymers. MDPI; 2022.
Degrazia FW, Leitune VCB, Garcia IM, Arthur RA, Samuel SMW, Collares FM. Effect of silver nanoparticles on the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of an orthodontic adhesive. Journal of Applied Oral Science. 2016 Jul 1;24(4):404–10.
Rocamundi M, Lagoner A, Lasca Juncal A, Pollo C, Reston Fradejas M, Chiadeh S, et al. Ventajas y riesgos del uso de pastas dentales con nanotecnologías. Methodo Investigación Aplicada a las Ciencias Biológicas. 2018 Sep 24;3(3):67–72.
Yassaei S, Nasr A, Zandi H, Motallaei MN. Comparison of antibacterial effects of orthodontic composites containing different nanoparticles on streptococcus mutans at different times. Dental Press J Orthod. 2020 Mar 1;25(2):52–60.
AlKahtani RN. The implications and applications of nanotechnology in dentistry: A review. Vol. 30, Saudi Dental Journal. Elsevier B.V.; 2018. p. 107–16.
Ali MS, Kano B. Endodontic materials: From old materials to recent advances. In: Advanced Dental Biomaterials. Elsevier; 2019. p. 255–99.
Shamaila S, Zafar N, Riaz S, Sharif R, Nazir J, Naseem S. Gold nanoparticles: An efficient antimicrobial agent against enteric bacterial human pathogen. Nanomaterials. 2016 Apr 14;6(4).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Elian Illescas , Carlos Andrade , Paola Orellana

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Los autores/as conservarán sus derechos de autor y garantizarán a la revista el derecho de primera publicación de su obra, el cuál estará simultáneamente sujeto a la Licencia de reconocimiento de Creative Commons que permite a terceros compartir la obra siempre que se indique su autor y su primera publicación esta revista.
- Los autores/as podrán adoptar otros acuerdos de licencia no exclusiva de distribución de la versión de la obra publicada (p. ej.: depositarla en un archivo telemático institucional o publicarla en un volumen monográfico) siempre que se indique la publicación inicial en esta revista.
- Se permite y recomienda a los autores/as difundir su obra a través de Internet (p. ej.: en archivos telemáticos institucionales o en su página web) posterior al proceso de aprobación del manuscrito, lo cual puede producir intercambios interesantes y aumentar las citas de la obra publicada.