Antibacterial silver-containing mesoporous bioglass as a dentin remineralization agent in a microorganism-challenged environment

A graphic abstract of this study. [Display omitted] To provide a suitable material capable of treating dentin hypersensitivity with simultaneous active antibacterial activity. We developed silver-containing mesoporous bioglass (MBG-Ag) using the sol-gel technique, which loaded silver nanoparticles as promising bacteriostatic agents. The MBG-Ag with a powder-to-liquid ratio of 0.5 g: 0.01 mL were uniformly mixed with 20 %, 30 %, and 40 % phosphoric acid for 5, 10 and 20 min, respectively. Furthermore, we evaluated the occlusion efficiency, depth of penetration, and antibacterial activity of dentin specimens by simulating a Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) infection on dentin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the powders and assess tubule occlusion. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the MBG-Ag against S. mutans were determined via time-killing curves and colony formation assays. The MIC ranged from 2.5 to 5 mg/mL, and the MBC ranged from 5 to 10 mg/mL. The highest dentinal tubule occlusion efficiency was over 90 %. The colony formation assay confirmed that 5 mg/mL MBG-Ag mixed with phosphoric acid reached the bactericidal concentration. The MBG-Ag 40PA achieved a good occlusion efficiency and deep apatite precipitation in a short time, implying its superiority in clinical applications. The MBG-Ag formed in this study is a promising candidate for the treatment of demineralized dentin and confers antibacterial effects on the remineralized dentin surface against S. mutans.