title: Antibacterial nanosilver coated orthodontic bands with potential implications in dentistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fixed orthodontic treatment, an indispensable procedure in orthodontics, necessitates insertion of dental bands. Insertion of band material could also introduce a site of plaque retention. It was hypothesized that band materials with slow-release antimicrobial properties could help in sustained infection control, prevention of dental plaque formation and further associated health risks. Considering the known antimicrobial proprieties of silver, a coating of silver nanoparticle (SNP) onto the stainless steel bands was done and characterized for its beneficial properties in the prevention of plaque accumulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coatings of SNPs on conventional stainless steel dental bands were prepared using thermal evaporation technology. The coated dental bands were characterized for their physicochemical properties and evaluated for antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility. The physiochemical characterization of band material both coated and uncoated was carried out using scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopyand contact angle test. Biocompatibility tests for coated band material were carried using L929 mouse fibroblast cell culture and MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. Antimicrobial activity of coated band material against Gram-positive bacteria was tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A stable and uniform coating of SNPs was obtained. The coated band materials were biocompatible as well as possessed distinct antimicrobial activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SNP coated dental bands could be potential antimicrobial dental bands for future clinical use. Further studies need to be done to validate the efficiency of coated band materials in oral environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India.
authors.forename: Rahul Damodaran
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Prabha
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India.
authors.forename: Rajasigamani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kandasamy
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering & Regeneration Technologies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
authors.forename: U Sajeev
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Sivaraman
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
authors.forename: Maya A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nandkumar
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering & Regeneration Technologies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
authors.forename: Prabha D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003813:Dentistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009973:Orthodontics, Preventive / Q000379:methods*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D013193:Stainless Steel; D012834:Silver