Ethanolic curcumin/silver nanoparticles suspension as antibacterial coating mixture for gutta-percha and cotton fabric

Abstract In recent years, the introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) in coating systems to impart antibacterial activity to substrates of interest is on the rise to counteract drug-resistant bacterial infections. In this regard, a coating system was developed using curcumin/Ag NPs (C-Ag NPs) complex in ethanolic suspension to be used as an antibacterial coating material for gutta-percha (dental filler) and cotton fabric. The prepared NPs were thoroughly characterized by employing x-ray diffraction, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, and particle size analysis. A simple dip coating technique with a solvent evaporation route was employed to modify the surfaces of gutta-percha and the cotton fabric. The antibacterial activity of C-Ag NPs modified gutta-percha and cotton fabric was assessed using a modified colony counting route and AATCC-147 standard, respectively, and displayed better results than curcumin-modified substrates. Therefore, the pathway for bacterial infections after root canal treatment and the spread of hospital-acquired infections in the hospital sector can be restricted with the use of C-Ag NPs modified gutta-percha and cotton fabric, respectively.