Antibacterial effect of titanium oxide and cobalt-doped zinc ferrite coated stainless steel orthodontic brackets against Streptococcus mutans – an in-vitro study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2340/biid.v12.44819Keywords:
White spot lesions, nanoparticles, coatings, orthodontic brackets, titanium oxide, cobalt-doped zinc ferriteAbstract
Background: White spot lesions (WSL), plaque buildup, and poor oral hygiene are all consequences of the intricate bracket patterns found in fixed orthodontic treatment. Therefore, coatings made of titanium oxide (TiO2) and cobalt-doped zinc ferrite (CZFO) nanoparticles were evaluated for their antibacterial qualities to address this issue.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the antibacterial effects of TiO2 and CZFO when used as surface modificants for orthodontic stainless-steel brackets in reducing the proliferation of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).
Materials and methods: The study was conducted as two main groups: a TiO2 group and a CZFO group. Each group was subsequently divided into three subgroups: a control group (petri dish containing S. mutans strain in broth without brackets), uncoated brackets (n = 20), and coated brackets (n = 20) resulting in a total of 40 brackets per group. The brackets were coated using a hydrothermal process followed by microbiological assays to determine the colony-forming units (CFU) of S. mutans.
Statistical analysis: Results were analyzed within groups using one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc Tukey tests. Differences between the two coatings were analyzed using independent Student’s t-test.
Results: In their respective groups, the TiO2-coated and CZFO-coated brackets showed significantly lower CFUs of S. mutans (2.46 ± 0.15 and 2.93 ± 0.59 log10CFU/mL, respectively) than the control group (5.07 ± 0.24 and 4.64 ± 0.30 log10 CFU/mL respectively) and the uncoated brackets (4.56 ± 0.49 and 4.52 ± 0.24 log10 CFU/mL respectively) (Group TiO2-p < 0.001, Group CZFO-p = 0.004) . No significant difference in CFU was found between TiO2 and CZFO coatings.
Conclusion: In this study, both TiO2 and CZFO coated brackets proved to be better than their respective control groups at reducing the viability of S. mutans. CZFO coated brackets exhibited antibacterial effects comparable to UV-activated TiO₂ brackets, even under visible light.
Downloads
References
Jasso-Ruiz I, Velazquez-Enriquez U, Scougall-Vilchis RJ, Morales-Luckie RA, Sawada T, Yamaguchi R. Silver nanoparticles in orthodontics, a new alternative in bacterial inhibition: in vitro study. Prog Orthod. 2020;21(1):24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40510-020-00324-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40510-020-00324-6
Eliades T, Eliades G, Brantley WA. Microbial attachment on orthodontic appliances: I. Wettability and early pellicle formation on bracket materials. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1995;108(4):351–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-5406(95)70032-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-5406(95)70032-3
Liu Y, Xu Y, Song Q, Wang F, Sun L, Liu L, Yang X, Yi J, Bao Y, Ma H, Huang H, Yu C, Huang Y, Wu Y, Li Y. Anti-biofilm Activities from Bergenia crassifolia Leaves against Streptococcus mutans. Front Microbiol. 2017 Sep 13;8:1738. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01738
Selvaraj A, George AM, Rajeshkumar S. Efficacy of zirconium oxide nanoparticles coated on stainless steel and nickel titanium wires in orthodontic treatment. Bioinformation. 2021;17(8):760–6. https://doi.org/10.6026/97320630017760 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6026/97320630017760
Park S, Kim HH, Yang SB, Moon JH, Ahn HW, Hong J. A polysaccharide-based antibacterial coating with improved durability for clear overlay appliances. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2018;10(21): 17714–21. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b04433 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b04433
Rao KJ, Paria S. Aegle marmelosLeaf extract and plant surfactants mediated green synthesis of au and ag nanoparticles by optimizing process parameters using Taguchi method. ACS Sustain Chem Eng. 2015;3(3):483–91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b00022
Cho M, Chung H, Choi W, Yoon J. Linear correlation between inactivation of E. coli and OH radical concentration in TiO2 photocatalytic disinfection. Water Res. 2004;38:1069–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2003.10.029 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2003.10.029
Solanki LA, Dinesh SPS, Jain RK, Balasubramaniam A. Effects of titanium oxide coating on the antimicrobial properties, surface characteristics, and cytotoxicity of orthodontic brackets – a systematic review and meta analysis of in-vitro studies [published correction appears in J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2024;14(4):360–361. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2024.05.009.]. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2023;13(5):553–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.05.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.05.014
Raveendra RS, Prashanth PA, Daruka Prasad B, Chandra Nayaka S, Suresha GP, Nagabhushana BM, et al. Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of zinc ferrite nanopowder. Int J Sci Res. 2013;1(4):e01780.
Sonu, Sharma S, Dutta V, Raizada P, Hosseini-Bandegharaei A, Thakur V, et al. An overview of heterojunctioned ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst for enhanced oxidative water purification. J Environ Chem Eng. 2021;9:105812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105812
Math M, Shah AG, Gangurde P, Karandikar AG, Gheware A, Jadhav BS. In-vitro comparative assessment of antibacterial and anti-adherent effect of two types of surface modificants on stainless steel orthodontic brackets against Streptococcus mutans. J Indian Orthod Soc. 2021;56(3):282–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/03015742211037298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03015742211037298
Nam WS, Han GY. A photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 photocatalyst prepared by the hydrothermal method. Korean J Chem Eng. 2003;20:180–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02697206 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02697206
Lopis AD, Choudhari KS, Sai R, Kanakikodi KS, Maradur SP, Kulkarni SD. Co2+-laddered heterojunction a next-generation solar-photocatalyst: unusually improved activity for the decomposition of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and microplastics. Mater Res Bull. 2024;176:112836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2024.112836 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2024.112836
Fatani EJ, Almutairi HH, Alharbi AO, Alnakhli YO, Divakar DD, Alkheraif AA, Khan AA. In vitro assessment of stainless-steel orthodontic brackets coated with titanium oxide mixed Ag for anti-adherent and antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Microb Pathogenesis. 2017;112:190–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2017.09.052 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2017.09.052
Ahn SJ, Kho HS, Lee SW, Nahm DS. Roles of salivary proteins in the adherence of oral streptococci to various orthodontic brackets. J Dent Res. 2002;81(6):411–5. https://doi.org/10.1177/154405910208100611 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/154405910208100611
Agnihotri R, Gaur S, Albin S. Nanometals in dentistry: applications and toxicological implications–a systematic review. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020;197(1):70–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01986-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01986-y
Vimbela GV, Ngo SM, Fraze C, Yang L, Stout DA. Antibacterial properties and toxicity from metallic nanomaterials. Int J Nanomed. 2017;12:3941–65. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S134526 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S134526
Rafienia M, Bigham A, Hassanzadeh-Tabrizi SA. Solvothermal synthesis of magnetic spinel ferrites. J Med Signals Sens. 2018;8(2):108–18. https://doi.org/10.4103/2228-7477.232087 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2228-7477.232087
Haghniaz R, Rabbani A, Vajhadin F, Khan T, Kousar R, Khan AR, et al. Anti-bacterial and wound healing-promoting effects of zinc ferrite nanoparticles. J Nanobiotechnol. 2021;19(1):38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-021-00776-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-021-00776-w
Cao S, Wang Y, Cao L, Wang Y, Lin B, Lan W, Cao B. Preparation and antimicrobial assay of ceramic brackets coated with TiO2 thin films. Korean J Orthod. 2016;46(3):146. https://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2016.46.3.146 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2016.46.3.146
Ghasemi T, Arash V, Rabiee SM, Rajabnia R, Pourzare A, Rakhshan V. Antimicrobial effect, frictional resistance, and surface roughness of stainless-steel orthodontic brackets coated with nanofilms of silver and titanium oxide: a preliminary study. Microsc Res Tech. 2017;80(6):599–607. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22835 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22835
Salehi P, Babanouri N, Roein-Peikar M, Zare F. Long-term antimicrobial assessment of orthodontic brackets coated with nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide against Streptococcus mutans. Progr Orthod. 2018;19:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40510-018-0236-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40510-018-0236-y
Pleskova SN, Golubeva IS, Verevkin YK. Bactericidal activity of titanium dioxide ultraviolet-induced films. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2016;59:807–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.021
Shah AG, Shetty PC, Ramachandra CS, Bhat NS, Laxmikanth SM. In vitro assessment of photocatalytic titanium oxide surface modified stainless steel orthodontic brackets for antiadherent and antibacterial properties against Lactobacillus acidophilus. Angle Orthod. 2011;81(6):1028–35. https://doi.org/10.2319/021111-101.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2319/021111-101.1
Baby RD, Subramaniam S, Arumugam I, Padmanabhan S. Assessment of antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of orthodontic stainless-steel brackets coated with different phases of titanium oxide: an in-vitro study. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthoped. 2017;151(4):678–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.09.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.09.014
Visai L, De Nardo L, Punta C, Melone L, Cigada A, Imbriani M, et al. Titanium oxide antibacterial surfaces in biomedical devices. Int J Artif Organs. 2011;34(9):929–46. https://doi.org/10.5301/ijao.5000050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5301/ijao.5000050
Thakur N, Thakur N, Kumar A, Kumar A, Thakur VK, Kalia S, et al. A critical review on the recent trends of photocatalytic, antibacterial, antioxidant and nanohybrid applications of anatase and rutile TiO2 nanoparticles. Sci Total Environ. 2024;914:169815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169815 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169815
Touati D. Iron and oxidative stress in bacteria. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2000;373(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.1006/abbi.1999.1518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/abbi.1999.1518
Haridas D, Atreya CD. The microbicidal potential of visible blue light in clinical medicine and public health. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022;9:905606. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.905606 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.905606
Shi H, Magaye R, Castranova V, Zhao J. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a review of current toxicological data. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2013;10:15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-8977-10-15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-8977-10-15
Huang DM, Chung TH, Hung Y, et al. Internalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles induces transient but not sufficient osteogenic signals in human mesenchymal stem cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008;231(2):208–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2008.04.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2008.04.009
El-Nahass EE, Salem BI, El-Naggar SA, Elwan MM. Evaluation the toxic effects of Cobalt-Zinc Ferrite nanoparticles in experimental mice. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):6903. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90043-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90043-x
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Simarpreet Bhamra, Ritesh Singla, Suresh D. Kulkarni, Padmaja A. Shenoy, Nishu Singla, Vathsala Patil, Sandeep Kasana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry is a Diamond Open Access peer-reviewed journal, publishing research in oral biomaterials science. The publishing of articles is free for authors, thanks to the support of Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Society (AOSS), a not-for-profit society. 
