Antibacterial Activity of Nano-Sized Gourami Fish Scales Powder (Osphronemus Gourami) Added to Conventional Glass Ionomer Cement

Abstract

Background: Gourami scales contain antibacterial compounds, e.g., catechins, chitin, calcium, omega 3, omega 6, and flavonoids. Our previous studies have shown that millimicrons-sized gourami fish scales powder (GFSP) added to Glass ionomer cement (GIC) acts as an immunomodulator against Streptococcus mutans both in vitro and in vivo. However, the antibacterial activity of the material was affected by the particle size, and the effects of smaller GFSP, which is nano-sized (nGFSP), on oral biofilms are largely unknown. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed the potential of nGFSP added to conventional GIC in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus. nGFSP were divided into five groups, 0% (control), 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5% (4 samples for each group). The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method. Then, the diameter of the inhibition zone was measured and analyzed using ANOVA followed by the LSD test. Results: Antibacterial activity against S. sanguinis, S. aureus, and S. mutans significantly increased with nGFSP. The largest zone of inhibition was measured at a concentration of 3.5%, that is, 4.02 mm (S. sanguinis) and 2.29 mm (S. aureus). Meanwhile, nGFSP is more effective in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans in an optimum concentration of 0.5% with a zone of inhibition is 3.54 mm. Conclusion: The addition of nGFSP improved the antibacterial activity of GIC against gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, such as S. sanguinis, S. aureus, and S. mutans.