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. 2025 Feb;19(1):103-109.
doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1786863. Epub 2024 Jul 8.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Graphene Nanoparticles against Enterococcus faecalis: In Vitro Study

Omer Sheriff Sultan  1 , Preena Sidhu  2 , Kiran Rehman  2 , Thiagrajan Madheswaran  3 , Amalraj Fabian Davamani  4
Affiliations

Antibacterial Efficacy of Graphene Nanoparticles against Enterococcus faecalis: In Vitro Study

Omer Sheriff Sultan et al. Eur J Dent. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Objective(s): This study compared the antimicrobial efficacy of nanographene (NG) particles with chlorhexidine (CHX) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) against Enterococcus faecalis.

Materials and methods: Forty extracted human mandibular premolar teeth were cleaned using a scaler, and the middle-third of the root (6 mm) was decoronated using a rotary diamond disk. The inner diameter of the teeth was made consistent using Gates Glidden Drills #3, treated with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite before sterilization. The samples were then contaminated with E. faecalis grown in Tryptic soy broth for 21 days. Tooth samples were then randomly divided into four groups: Group I (Control), untreated saline; Group II, Ca(OH)2; Group III, CHX; and Group IV, NG. The assessment of bacterial growth was carried out by harvesting dentin chips at the end of 1, 3, and 7 days. The colonies were physically counted and tabulated after 24 hours from seeding. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed with analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS Version 20.0.

Results: The contaminated dentine blocks irrigated with NG (0.5 µg) and CHX (0 ± 0; p < 0.001) had no growth of E. faecalis colonies compared to blocks of Ca(OH)2 (10 ± 21) and saline (927 ± 455). All concentrations of NG (0.5 and 1.0 µg) showed effectiveness higher (p < 0.001) than 2% CHX when measured by the zone of inhibition against E. faecalis. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that NG is effective against growth of E. faecalis and may be used as a promising antimicrobial agent during root canal treatment. However, further studies should be done to investigate the effect of NG against other dental pathogens.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
( A ) Size distribution intensity. ( B ) Zeta potential curve.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean plot of Enterococcus faecalis at 200 µm at varying time intervals. Ca(OH) 2, calcium hydroxide; CHX, chlorhexidine; NG, nanographene.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Cells in the presence and absence of nanographene in an NIH-3T3 (mouse fibroblast).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Dead cells appearing in the image shown treated with chlorhexidine.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Cell viability is measured by live/dead staining of NIH-3T3 cells after incubation on each substrate for 24 and 48 hours. Live and dead cells were counted and the percentage of live cells was plotted. NG, nanographene.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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