Biological and mechanical properties of a self-curing acrylic resin enriched with AgNPs as a proposal for orthopedic aparatology

Abstract

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is widely used in dentistry, but its inherent characteristics, such as roughness and porosity, can facilitate the formation of bacterial biofilms. However, the integration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can provide antimicrobial properties. Ongoing research endeavors aim to preserve post-nanoaggregation biocompatibility without compromising the mechanical integrity of the material. In this study, we investigated the biological and mechanical attributes of a PMMA nanocomposite infused with AgNPs biosynthesized from Pelargonium × hortorum. A method has been described to incorporate nanoparticles into the polymer at minimum concentrations. In the results, LC-MS-MS revealed the presence of 56 biochemical compounds. UPLCHRESIMS-MS/MS was used to compare the phytochemical profiles of the leaf extract of Pelargonium × hortorum before and after the formation of AgNPs, which were identified with spherical morphology, an absorbance of 28.5 ± 8.16 nm and a particle size of 415 nm. The MIC of AgNPs was 10 μg mL⁻¹. In bacterial MTT, a decrease to 18.2 ± 2.5% with PMMA-10 μg mL⁻¹ was observed (p < 0.05). Decreased cell viability was found only in PMMA-0 μg mL⁻¹ at 89.1 ± 6.7%, indicating no cytotoxicity. These findings suggest a promising bionano material that is suitable for orthodontic and orthopedic devices and warrants further research.