Tailored Synthesis and Profiling of Capped Silver and Selnium Nanoparticles for Topical Applications in Paediatric Dentistry

Background: Silver fluoride medicaments effectively arrest caries progression but cause permanent staining. Metal nanoparticles are increasingly utilised in paediatric dentistry due to their antimicrobial properties. Aim: This study reports the synthesis and char-acterisation of silver and selenium nanoparticles stabilised with natural agents to en-hance their antimicrobial potential. Methods: Six silver and selenium nanoparticles were chemically synthesised and stabilised using biocompatible eco-friendly capping agents, including casein, bovine serum albumin, chitosan, citrate, and tannic acid. Characterisation was performed using Tyndall scattering, UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and ICP-OES. Results: The synthesised particles were spherical in shape, ranging in size from 2.5 to 24 nm for silver, and 35 to 43 nm for selenium. Elemental analysis confirmed the absence of heavy metals. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of stabilised metal nanoparticles for antimicrobial ap-plications in paediatric dentistry.