Anticariogenic Activity of Fresh Aloe vera Gel Mediated Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Background: Biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles for its medical applications has become a major focus in nanotechnology in the recent years. Aloe vera has a wide spectrum of medicinal applications due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer and wound healing properties. Copper oxide nanoparticles have effective antimicrobial action against a wide range of pathogens and also dug resistant bacteria.

Materials and Method: In the present study, Aloe vera gel is used to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles and were characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry and FT-IR. The anticariogenic activity of oral pathogens namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas sp, were also tested.

Results: UV absorption spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles revealed an intense surface plasmon resonance between 250 and 300. The functional groups in the copper oxide nanoparticles were determined by FT-IR and these also shown to have potent anticariogenic activity.

Conclusion: Copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Aloe vera gel shown to have an excellent anticariogenic activity and has a wide array of dental applications.