ISSN: 2456-8090 (online)

DOI: 10.26440/IHRJ/0511.02511 

Nanozyme Therapy in Dental Practice

SRISHTI BODH¹, MINAKSHI*², PALAK CHOUDHARY³

Cite this article as: Bodh S, Minakshi, Choudhary P. Nanozyme Therapy in Dental Practice. Int Healthc Res J. 2021;5(11):SC3-SC4. https://doi.org/10.26440/IHRJ/0511.02511

Author Affiliations:

1. Intern, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, H.P.

Contact Corresponding Author at: sharmaminakshi5361[at]gmail[dot]com

ABSTRACT

Nanozymes are multi-functional nanomaterials with enzyme like activity, which rapidly took place in biomedicine. Nanozymes overcome the  disadvantages of other natural enzymes such as High production costs, poor environmental stability, difficulty in  storage etc. In order to highlight the  contribution of nanozymes facilitating  dental health we review the overall research progress of multifunctional nanaozymes in various oral related diseases, including treating oral ulcers,  dental caries, dental pulp diseases and peri-implantitis.¹ 

Treating dental caries: An experimental technique incorporating two main components: a solution which is applied to the teeth and a rinse with hydrogen peroxide  that is subsequently swished in the mouth then spat out. This  solution is known as ferumoxytol containing  iron-oxide nanoparticles that have enzyme-like properties and  therefore referred to as nanozymes. 

On applying ferumoxytol onto the teeth, these nanozymes bind to the receptors present on the cell membranes of cavity-causing bacteria. The iron oxide which is present in the hydrogen peroxide rinse function as a catalyst that converts the hydrogen peroxide into oxidants. These oxidants kill the bacteria by rupturing their cell membranes and cause easy removal of plaque biofilms.² 

Treating dental pulp diseases: In the treatment of dental pulp diseases, root canal therapy is the most effective approach. First tested by Koo’s research team bacterial nanomaterials enhancing the antibacterial activity on the surface of complex root canals and dentinal tubules were found to be effective after a short period of local treatment (5 minutes). These iron oxide nanozymes  bind to the surface of infectious dentinal tubules, and leads to  the activation of hydrogen peroxide which  eliminates plaque biofilms present on the surface of root canal and dentinal tubules.

Treating oral ulcers: These are chronic inflammatory diseases of oral mucosa and there is no current treatment available with any specific drug. Thus, introducing vitamin B₂ modified Fe₃O₄ nanozyme improved the healing speed of oral ulcers via anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. It was found that this modification enhanced their own enzyme-like activity and significantly improved its superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability. Cellular antioxidation experiments proved that this nanozymes can protect cells from H₂O₂, having good biocompatibility and accelerated the healing of oral ulcers in a mouse model by decreasing the secretion of local inflammatory factors and eliminating  reactive oxygen species. Hence, these antibacterial agents with enzyme like activity may become an effective treatment for oral ulcers.  

Preventing plaque-build up: FDA approved iron oxide nano-particles, which is delivered in a mouth rinse, can conquer the growth of dental plaque and kill bacteria which causes  tooth decay. Daily application of ferumoxytol twice a day, activates hydrogen peroxide incorporated in a follow-up rinse, significantly reducing the harmful dental plaque build-up and also had a targeted effect on the bacteria which is  responsible for tooth decay.3  

Preventing peri-implantitis: Periimplantitis is an inflammatory reaction of the oral tissue around the implant under the action of bacteria, which is the main cause for dental implant failure.  To prevent periimplantitis, patient should be aware of oral hygiene, use of ideal dental implant materials and proper implant design by the doctors. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys, are extensively used as dental implant materials as it has good biocompatibility. However, the use of titanium without any antibacterial properties generates a surface on which  dental plaque accumulates easily, which is difficult to remove. The Titanium implants with antibacterial modification includes different coating material is favorable in hampering the growth of bacteria around implants, encouraging  osseointegration, and improving the success rate of surgery. The surface of Titanium implants is modified by using photo responsive chitosan/Ag/MoS₂ and their antibacterial effect can only be activated when exposed to specific light after peri-implantitis. Nanozyme coated implants have increasingly shown excellent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and may become a potential strategy for eliminating peri-implantitis. 

REFERENCES

1. Chen X, Xing H, Zhou Z, Hao Y, Zhang X, Qi F. Nanozymes go oral: nanocatalytic medicine facilitates dental health J Mater Chem B. 2021,9, 1491-1502. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TB02763D
2. Coxworth B. Iron-oxide "nanozymes" could help fight cavities. Newsatlas. (Online Article). Available from: https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/iron-oxide-nanozymes-cavities/ [Last Accessed on 12-Jan-2022]
3. Healtcare Radius. ‘Nanozyme’ therapy prevents harmful dental plaque buildup. (Online Article). Available from: https://www.healthcareradius.in/rd/31403-nanozyme-therapy-prevents-harmful-dental-plaque-buildup. [Last Accessed on 12-Jan-2022]