Coating Orthodontic Miniscrew with Chlorhexidine Hexametaphosphate Nanoparticle (An in vitro-study)

Introduction: Inflammation associated with insertion of orthodontic miniscrews (OMS) may lead to their failure, therefore inhibition of microbial buildup is preferable. Chlorhexidine hexametaphosphate has offered persistent, slow release of active chlorhexidine over time, and hence a good anti-microbial agent. Aims of study: To prepare and characterize CHX-HMP antimicrobial nanoparticle for coating and characterization of the stainless steel and titanium orthodontic miniscrews. Materials and Methods: Suspension of 5 mM CHX-HMP nanoparticles were prepared. The formulated suspension was subjected to examination by AFM and FTIR. Sterilized miniscrews were immersed in the prepared suspension for half a minute, then inserted in deionized water for 10 seconds to eliminate any unbound material and then left to dry in air for at least 1 hour. The OMSs were examined by using SEM and FeSEM. Results: The AFM micrographs displayed that the characterization of nanoparticles expressed a relative homogeneity in terms of particle size and in their topographical distribution with the regular shaped particles being well aligned vertically with mean particles size 45.2 nm. FTIR showed the presence of C=O bond in chlorhexidine digluconate and its absence in the mixed nanoparticles indicate the replacement of gluconate by hexametaphosphate. SEM and FeSEM showed that all coated OMS (stainless steel and titanium) revealed nanoparticles of spherical shape with perfect homogenous distribution with no agglomeration meaning that the coating of OMS with the prepared colloidal suspension have a good dispersion of nanoparticles. Conclusion: OMS could be coated with antimicrobial CXH-HMP nanoparticles to assist reducing infection associated with the insertion of OMS.