Physicochemical and antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles-modified mineral trioxide aggregate hydrated with antibiotic/chitosan solution

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) modified with ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONP) and hydrated with chitosan solution denoted MTA-ZnO/Ch is a strategy to solve the MTA limitations as a pulp capping material in root canal therapy. MTA materials with high antibacterial activity and antibiotic delivery are being developed. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of various antibiotic additions to MTA-ZnO/Ch on mechanical and antibacterial activities. Material and Methods: The ZnONP, 5 (w/w), was added during preparing MTA, and the resulting gel was calcined at 1000 °C to obtain MTA-ZnO. The MTA-ZnO was hydrated with 4 chitosan in 1 acetic acid solution containing antibiotics (tetracycline, metronidazole, amoxicillin, and ampicillin) at a 1:1 ratio to produce MTA-ZnO/Ch-AB. The properties studied included compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, radiopacity, mass loss percentage, pH change, and antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Results: The synthesized MTA-ZnO/Ch has a compact structure, large surface area, and mesopore distribution with an average particle size of 747.04 nm. Among antibiotics investigated, only tetracycline improved the compressive and diametral tensile strengths of MTA-ZnO/Ch. Adding all investigated antibiotics did not affect the mass loss percentage (except for tetracycline reducing the mass loss), radiopacity, and the pH of the MTA-ZnO/Ch immersed saliva. Except for ampicillin addition against E. faecalis, which did not show antibacterial activity, antibiotics added to MTA-ZnO/Ch improved antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis, Conclusion: Adding tetracycline in MTA-ZnO/Ch enhanced physicochemical and antibacterial properties, and it can potentially be a conservative pulp therapy material. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.