Intratubular Antibacterial Effect of Polyethyleneimine Nanoparticles: An Ex Vivo Study in Human Teeth

Enterococcus faecalis is a facultative gram positive bacterium which can remain in the teeth root canals and cause refractory or persistent periapical diseases. E. faecalis bacteria that penetrate the dentinal tubules can be the source of intracanal infection and endodontic disease. Quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine (QPEI) nanopolymers were shown to have long lasting antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The present study evaluated the intratubular antibacterial effect of an epoxy resin sealer incorporating 1% QPEI against E. faecalis in a human dentin model. Root canals of extracted teeth were inoculated with E. faecalis for 7 days prior to standard endodontic treatment. The antibacterial effect of an epoxy-amine resin endodontic sealer was tested at concentration of 0% or 1% (wt/wt) added QPEI nanoparticles. Reduction in bacterial viability p < 0.01 was depicted in the dentinal tubules of the root canals obturated with the sealer incorporating QPEI nanoparticles. In conclusion, QPEI nanoparticles when incorporated in a small percentage into epoxy-resin based sealer may target E. faecalis in the dentinal tubules, producing a potent antibacterial effect that reduces significantly bacterial viability.