Microscopy Research and Technique最新文献

{"title":"Photocatalytic Degradation of Synozol Navy Blue Dye by Ni-Cu-Ag Dopped ZnO: An Insight Into Photoluminescence, Scavenging, Mechanism and Kinetic Aspects.","authors":"Zahid Mahmood, Muhammad Alamzeb, Tahseen Ghous, Sidra Rashid, Zulfiqar Ali","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24867","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cost-effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly strategies are crucial for treating organic pollutants in industrial wastewater. ZnO is a promising photocatalyst due to its affordability, environmentally benign nature, and ability to fully mineralize pollutants. However, its limited effectiveness under visible light is a major drawback. Ni doping helps reduce charge carrier recombination, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. Ni-Cu co-doping increases saturation magnetization by creating intrinsic defects, though it can lead to nanocluster formation on the catalyst surface. Ag further improves the performance by preventing nanocluster aggregation and prolonging charge carrier lifetimes. In this study, Ni-Cu-Ag@ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method and used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of Synozol navy blue dye. Characterization techniques like FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDX, BET, UV, and PL confirmed the nanocomposite structure and morphology. The Ni-Cu-Ag@ZnO nanocomposite achieved 88% photodegradation efficiency under optimal conditions (a contact time of 50 min, an initial dye concentration of 75 ppm, a catalyst dosage of 0.03 g, and an acidic medium with a pH of 2). The rate constants, k₁ (2 × 10^-2 min^-1) suggest that the degradation of Synozol navy blue by Ni-Cu-Ag@ZnO under ordinary light follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Scavenging tests further confirmed that the enhanced photocatalytic degradation was driven by the generation of OH^• radicals, with the addition of hydrogen peroxide playing a key role in preventing electron-hole recombination. This indicates that the quantity of hydroxyl radicals and their adsorption on the photocatalyst are crucial in determining the extent of degradation. This study highlights the potential of Ni-Cu-Ag@ZnO nanocomposites for industrial wastewater treatment and opens new avenues for the further enhancement of the photocatalytic efficiency of other catalysts under consideration.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Caries Eradication Techniques via Papacarie, and Er: YAG Laser With Different Adhesive Types Bonded to Composite Restoration in Primary Dentin. An SEM, μTBS, and Microleakage Assessment.","authors":"Faisal Ali Bin Abbooud AlQhtani","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Influence of different caries removal techniques using Papacarie and Erbium/yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er: YAG) laser to different adhesives etch and rinse (ER) and self-etch (SE) restored via tooth-colored material on micro tensile bond strength (μTBS) and marginal leakage scores. Ninety-six extracted primary molars exhibiting moderate caries were allocated into three groups based on the caries removal technique. Group 1: Conventional bur, Group 2: Papacarie gel, and Group 3: Er: YAG laser. After caries removal, specimens from three groups were further allocated into two subgroups based on the type of adhesive used (n = 16). Two-step ER (A) and Two-step SE (B). Composite restoration was built and thermocycling was performed. Microleakage, μTBS, and failure mode were analyzed using a dye penetration test, a Universal testing machine, and a stereomicroscope respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation of the composite-CAD interface was performed. One-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test were utilized to compare microleakage and μTBS among investigated groups (p < 0.05). The lowest microlekage (13.56 ± 0.02) and highest μTBS (13.26 ± 0.11 MPa) was exhibited by Group 3B (Er: YAG laser-SE). However, the highest microleakage (45.62 ± 0.09) and lowest bond strength (9.34 ± 0.11 MPa) was exhibited by 1A (Conventional bur-ER) treated samples. For caries removal in primary dentition, the Er: YAG laser and Papacarié gel present themselves as appropriate alternatives. These non-invasive methods yield improved mechanical results when utilized with self-etch adhesive system.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143743152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrastructural Morphometry of Mitochondria: Comparison Between Conventional Operator-Dependent and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Operated Machine Learning Methods.","authors":"Daniele Nosi, Daniele Guasti, Alessia Tani, Sara Germano, Daniele Bani","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24866","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24866","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Morphometric analysis of digital images is fundamental to substantiate the visual observations with objective quantitative data suitable for statistical analysis. The recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have allowed the development of machine learning (ML) protocols for automated morphometry. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphometry requires that the ultrastructural details be recognized and interpreted by a trained observer; this makes adapting AI-operated protocols to TEM particularly challenging. In this study, we have checked the accuracy of the results of mitochondrial morphometry yielded by a ML method by comparison with those obtained manually by a trained observer on the same TEM micrographs (magnification ×50,000) of cultured cells with different energy metabolism (overall n = 26). The measured parameter was the ratio between the total length of the mitochondrial cristae and the corresponding mitochondrial surface area (C/A ratio), directly related to mitochondrial function. No statistically significant correlation (Pearson's test) was found between the two methods in any of the experiments. Only in a few micrographs were the values similar (n = 3) or very close (n = 2) to be comprised within the s.e.m. of their experimental group. Moreover, as judged by the s.d. comparison, the scatter of values was more prominent with the ML-operated than with the manual method. Conceivably, this outcome is because many ultrastructural details of the cell organelles are similar, for example, the membrane section profiles, and can only be properly recognized and distinguished by an experienced observer, while the current ML protocols still cannot.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143743162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green Synthesis, Microstructural Characterization, and Synergizing Effect of Na-β-Type Hexagonal Ferrite Nanomaterials as a Probe for Cefixime Electrochemical Sensors.","authors":"Sajjad Hussain, Imran Sadiq, Jameel Ahmed Baig, Shakoor Ahmed Solangi, Zahid U Khan, Imam Bakhsh Solangi, Saira Riaz, Robert C Pullar, Khalid Hussain Thebo, Mohsin Kazi","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24810","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The quantitative study of antibiotics is important in various biomedical applications. Cefixime is a third-generation cephalosporin medication used to treat a range of bacterial infections. In this study, the green synthesis of sodium β-type hexagonal ferrite nanomaterial (NaFe₁₁O₁₇-NMs) was carried out from ginger root extract via the sol-gel method. The as-synthesized NMs were characterized via atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis, and UV-visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, the drop-casting process is used to synthesize an efficient electrochemical sensor by coating a gold electrode (AuE) with NaFe₁₁O₁₇ NMs (NaFe₁₁O₁₇-NMs/AuE), which helps in the sensitive and selective quantification of cefixime. The as-prepared electrochemical process had a remarkably low detection limit of 14 nM. The as-fabricated sensor was effectively used to quantify cefixime levels in clinical samples and pharmaceutical formulations, with recoveries ranging from 95.20% to 102.48%.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microscope-Assisted Hypertensive Retinopathy Diagnosis Using Deep Learning Models.","authors":"Shahzad Akbar, Usama Shahzore, Tanzila Saba, Faten S Alamri, Sadaf S Khan, Amjad R Khan","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24847","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24847","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The retina is the most crucial part of the human eye, and it can be affected due to hypertension. However, retinal abnormalities due to hypertension are termed hypertensive retinopathy (HR). A severe stage of HR can lead to complete blindness if not diagnosed and treated on time. Manually analyzing retinal images for HR diagnosis is time-consuming and prone to errors. This research article provides a novel technique based on U-Net and Dense-Net for automatic HR detection and grading through retinal images. The presented method consists of preprocessing, vessel segmentation, artery or vein (A/V) classification, and vessel width calculation to compute the arteriovenous ratio (AVR). In the preprocessing phase, the Gabor filter is applied to the retinal image to enhance the vascular network of the image. The preprocessed image is fed into the U-Net architecture to segment the vascular network image. The segmented vascular network image is fed into the Dense-Net architecture for A/V classification. The A/V classified vascular network is divided into several artery and vein segments at the bifurcation and crossover points. The A/V segments are labeled for width calculation to compute the AVR. The AVR is a standard parameter for HR detection and grading. The evaluation results show an average accuracy of 99.40% in HR classification and 99.77% in HR grading on the AVRDB dataset. The evaluated results are beneficial for the automatic HR detection and grading for clinical purposes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Multi-Modal Approach for Exploring Sarcoma and Carcinoma Using FTIR and Polarimetric Analysis.","authors":"Muhammad Abubakar Siddique, Munir Akhtar, Muhammad Abdul Majid, Ejaz Ahmad Khera, Manzoor Ahmad, Ghulam Gilanie, Wesam Atef Hatamleh, Muhammad Bilawal Junaid, Muhammad Umar Dad, Hafeez Ullah","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24853","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24853","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ex vivo characterization of sarcoma and carcinoma tissue samples was evaluated using microscopy, optical polarimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and support vector machines (SVM). Recent evidence suggests that it is crucial to explore new diagnostic methods for detecting the smallest features of cancer. In this paper, we discuss the FTIR, which characterizes the chemical composition of sarcoma and carcinoma tissues at different wavenumbers. The FTIR spectra of sarcoma tissues exhibited significant differences in chemical composition (OH, CH, and NH) compared to carcinoma tissues (NH, CO and CH), particularly in the spectral range from 400 to 4000 cm^-1. Mueller matrix polarimetry (MMP) combined with polar decomposition was used to compare 13 polarimetric parameters in ex vivo sarcoma and carcinoma tissues across the visible spectrum (400-800 nm), revealing significantly higher values for all metrics in sarcoma samples. Microscopic analysis revealed distinctive morphological changes associated with sarcoma and carcinoma, contributing to these variations. All polarimetric features explored using SVM demonstrated promise for computer-assisted classification of the two tissue types. SVM successfully achieved an overall 90% accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. These results suggest that the combination of optical polarimetry and FTIR, along with SVM, holds significant potential for automated pathology classification of sarcoma and carcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scale Surface Topography of a Vulnerable Cyprinid Fish, Schizothorax plagiostomus From Kashmir Himalayas Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).","authors":"Misba Rehman, Syed Talia Mushtaq, Tasaduq Hussain Shah, Farooz Ahmad Bhat","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24861","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24861","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has significantly advanced morphological studies, particularly in the investigation of fish scale structures. This technique has unveiled intricate architectural details that are crucial for fish identification and classification. In this study, macro and microscopic analyses were employed to examine the scale morphology of Schizothorax plagiostomus, a vulnerable cyprinid fish from Kashmir, focusing on two body regions (region below dorsal fin and above lateral line). The general scale type observed in S. plagiostomus was cycloid. Two types of shapes, viz., polygonal and cordate, were reported in this species. The rostral margin of the scales displayed round and waved forms. The scales exhibited a small and round focus, which was antero-centrally positioned. The scales featured narrow or wide grooves (radii) categorized into three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary, present across all four scale fields (anterior, posterior, dorsal and lateral), forming a tetra-sectioned type. Circuli, arranged in circular patterns around the focus, were present, which were densely placed in the anterior and lateral fields and widely spaced in the posterior field. Notably, lepidonts on the circuli and chromatophores on the posterior margin were absent in this species. These scale characteristics and their morphologies offer a valuable tool for the identification, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of various freshwater fish species and genera.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green Synthesis and Characterization of Ag Nanoparticles Using Carissa spinarum L. Leaf Extract: Evaluation for Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities.","authors":"Huma Firdous, Rizwan Taj Khan, Muhammad Manzoor, Syed Waseem Gillani, Muhammad Nasir, Mumna Munir, Shabir Ahmad","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24817","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using plants, particularly medicinal plants, is an increasingly popular research field. This method provides a safe, sustainable, fast, and easy way to produce NPs for various applications, including therapeutics and nutrition. The objective of this study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at room temperature using Carissa spinarum leaf extract as a capping and bioreduction agent. This method is cost-effective and user-friendly. The reaction process was investigated using UV spectroscopy. We confirmed the synthesis of AgNO₃ through SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques. The SEM data revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape, while XRD analysis confirmed their crystalline morphology with an average particle size of 21.80 nm. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of biocompound functional groups on the surface of AgNPs. We investigated the antibacterial activity of AgNPs using the disc diffusion method and observed that Gram-negative bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-positive bacteria. The antioxidant capabilities of the produced nanoparticles were tested using DPPH and ABTS tests, and the results were given as IC50 values. Furthermore, the antifungal potential was assessed using the agar well diffusion method. In addition, we are looking at the viability of plant-mediated nanoparticle synthesis and prospective applications, taking into account engineering, economic, and environmental factors. This study highlights the practical importance of plant-mediated nanoparticle synthesis in terms of engineering, economics, and the environment, as well as its extensive application in biomedical and environmental sectors.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Hypericum perforatum L. and Their Effects on Staphylococcus aureus.","authors":"Canan Sevinc-Sasmaz, Fatih Erci, Emrah Torlak, Mustafa Yöntem","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24862","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Hypericum perforatum L. and evaluates their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a maximum absorption peak at 448 nm, which indicates that nanoparticles have been formed successfully. TEM analysis showed that the AgNPs were spherical, with an average size of 35 ± 2.7 nm. FTIR confirmed the presence of functional groups on the surface of AgNP that may be contributing to its biological activity. The AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 75 μg/mL and an inhibition zone of 13 ± 0.13 mm at this concentration. They were also highly effective in inhibiting biofilm formation even at a concentration of 25 μg/mL, reducing biofilm formation by 47.25% ± 3.51%. At increased concentrations, nanoparticles have been shown to compromise bacterial membranes, leading to significant membrane disruption. This disruption subsequently results in a reduction of cellular respiration, with observed decreases of approximately twofold when compared to controls. Additionally, nanoparticles facilitate the production of superoxide anions, which can rise by about threefold, consequently enhancing the overall effectiveness of bacterial inactivation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed structural damage to bacterial cells treated with AgNPs, supporting their antimicrobial effects. These findings suggest that AgNPs synthesized from H. perforatum could serve as effective antimicrobial agents against S. aureus. Their ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, inhibit respiration, and induce oxidative stress makes them promising candidates for antimicrobial and antibiofilm applications, particularly given the increasing concern over bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Construction and Characterization of Polyethylene Glycol/Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Loaded With Zirconia Nanoparticles: Potential Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agent to Inhibit Dental Caries In Vitro and In Vivo.","authors":"Layth L Hamid, Roqaya S Zakir, Noha M Abdel Rahman, Rosol H Idrahim, Suha M Abdel Rahman","doi":"10.1002/jemt.24860","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24860","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biofilm formation on tooth surfaces is a primary contributor to dental caries and periodontal diseases. Streptococcus mutans is recognized for its role in biofilm production, significantly influencing the development of dental caries. Key virulence factors associated with S. mutans biofilms include acid production, acid tolerance, and the synthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS). This study presents a novel approach by focusing on the loading of biosynthesized zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) onto polyethylene glycol/sodium alginate (PEG/SA) hydrogel nanocomposite, evaluating their effects on the biofilm-forming ability of S. mutans both in vivo and in vitro. ZrO₂ NPs were biosynthesized using Citrus aurantifolia (C. aurantifolia) extract and incorporated into the PEG/SA hydrogel beads through a sol-gel process. The formation of ZrO₂ NPs and the PEG/SA/ZrO₂ NPs hydrogel nanocomposite was confirmed through diverse analyzes, including UV-visible spectroscopy, particle size measurement, morphology examination, spectral analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and hemolysis studies. The average particle size of the ZrO₂ NPs was approximately 26 nm, while the PEG/SA/ZrO₂ NPs hydrogel beads exhibited a highly porous, sheet-like surface structure. In vitro results demonstrated inhibition zones of 30 and 28 mm for ZrO₂ NPs and PEG/SA/ZrO₂ NPs hydrogel beads against S. mutans, respectively, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 mg/mL. The growth curve analysis indicated a complete decline in S. mutans growth with an 87% reduction in biofilm formation when treated with PEG/SA/ZrO₂ NPs hydrogel beads. SEM analysis revealed that S. mutans cells appeared lysed or crumpled, losing their characteristic coccal shape after exposure to the hydrogel beads. Additionally, SEM images confirmed the effective prevention of S. mutans attachment to teeth when encapsulated with PEG/SA/ZrO₂ NPs hydrogel, altering the morphology of mature biofilms that developed on the teeth after treatment. Finally, the incorporation of biosynthesized ZrO₂ NPs into PEG/SA hydrogels demonstrates significant potential as an effective strategy for inhibiting S. mutans biofilm formation and may serve as a promising topical agent for reducing dental caries. Further studies could explore the long-term efficacy and potential clinical applications of this nanocomposite in oral health care.</p>","PeriodicalId":18684,"journal":{"name":"Microscopy Research and Technique","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}