Evaluation of antibiofilm and mechanical properties of new nanocomposites based on acrylic resins and silver vanadate nanoparticles

• The nanostructured silver vanadate (β-AgVO3) was synthesized and characterized.
• Antibiofim activity promoted by adding β-AgVO3 in acrylic resins.
• We evaluate the dispersion pattern of β-AgVO3 in polymeric matrix.
• We examined the mechanical properties of the modified resins.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was evaluate, for the first time, the impact of incorporation of nanostructured silver vanadate (β-AgVO3) in antibiofilm and mechanical properties of dental acrylic resins (poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA).DesignThe β-AgVO3 was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, and microanalysis (SEM/EDS). Resins specimens were prepared with 0–10% wt.% β-AgVO3 and characterized by SEM, XRD and optical microscopy. The antibiofim activity of the samples against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans was investigated by XTT reduction test, colony-forming units (CFUs), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The flexural strength, hardness, and surface roughness of the samples containing β-AgVO3 were compared with the pure PMMA matrix.ResultsThe incorporation of 10% β-AgVO3 significantly reduced the metabolic activity of C. albicans and S. mutans (p < 0.05). There was a reduction in microbial load (CFU/mL) of microorganisms for the different concentrations used (p < 0.05), which was confirmed by confocal microscopy. The addition of β-AgVO3 did not change the mechanical properties of hardness and surface roughness of the resins (p > 0.05). However, flexural strength decreased with the addition of amounts greater than 1% (p < 0.05).Conclusionsβ-AgVO3 additions in dental acrylic resin may have an impact on inhibition of biofilm of main microorganisms associated with dental prostheses. However, the viability of clinical use should be evaluated in function of changed promoted in some mechanical properties.