title: Zerovalent bismuth nanoparticles inhibit Streptococcus mutans growth and formation of biofilm.
abstract: METHODS
  Despite continuous efforts, the increasing prevalence of resistance among pathogenic bacteria to common antibiotics has become one of the most significant concerns in modern medicine. Nanostructured materials are used in many fields, including biological sciences and medicine. While some bismuth derivatives has been used in medicine to treat vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain, the biocidal activity of zerovalent bismuth nanoparticles has not yet been studied. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the antimicrobial activity of bismuth nanoparticles against oral bacteria and their antibiofilm capabilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that stable colloidal bismuth nanoparticles had 69% antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans growth and achieved complete inhibition of biofilm formation. These results are similar to those obtained with chlorhexidine, the most commonly used oral antiseptic agent. The minimal inhibitory concentration of bismuth nanoparticles that interfered with S. mutans growth was 0.5 mM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that zerovalent bismuth nanoparticles could be an interesting antimicrobial agent to be incorporated into an oral antiseptic preparation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnologia, Centro de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, CIDICS, Facultad de Odontologia, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, UANL, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Delgadillo
authors.forename: Donaji
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velasco-Arias
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Katiushka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arevalo-Niño
authors.forename: Marianela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garza-Enriquez
authors.forename: Myriam A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De la Garza-Ramos
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabral-Romero
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D050997:Nanomedicine; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001729:Bismuth