Synthesis and characterization of poloxamer-embedded silver nanoparticles developed using bile salt and evaluating its in-vitro and in-vivo antimicrobial efficacy against periodontal pathogens

The work aimed to synthesize sodium taurocholate-capped silver nanoparticles embedded in a poloxamer hydrogel and investigate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity against the major periodontal pathogens Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and their mixed culture. The hydrogel was characterized by gelation temperature, particle size, in vitro Ag release, mucoadhesive strength, XRD, DSC, FTIR, and morphologically characterized using SEM, TEM, and EDX. The gel exhibited a spectral peak at 430 nm, whereas a shift to 420 nm was noted in samples stored for 90 days. SEM and TEM images validated the synthesis of AgNPs with an average diameter of 64.46 nm, which demonstrated a sustained release of Ag for 3 hours and were non-toxic to HGF-1 cells. A zeta potential of -23.72 mV suggested that the use of STC promoted the stability of the produced AgNPs gel. The antimicrobial effect of the hydrogel was compared with sodium borohydride-reduced AgNPs (NB-AgNPs) using seven methods: disk diffusion assay, antibiofilm assay, WIGs inhibition assay, EPS, protein inhibition assay, SEM and CLSM analysis. Further, the in vivo antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and retention potential of the hydrogel was evaluated using a ligature-induced model, revealing that S. mutans-infected rats were more susceptible than S. aureus-infected PDs model. These findings corroborate the safety, effectiveness, and non-toxic effect of bile salt-capped AgNPs. In summary, we present an innovative insight into a periodontal delivery system for a trimodal strategy in periodontitis.