Phycocyanin-Incorporated Zirconium Dioxide Nanoparticles Activated by Photodynamic Therapy for Caries Affected Dentin Disinfection: “An Examination of Adhesive Bond Strength And Scanning Elemental Analysis”

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of various disinfection regimes on the antimicrobial efficacy and bond integrity of CAD against two varieties of bacteria: lacto-bacilli and S. mutans. Material and methods: The investigation used SBS, SEM, elemental analysis, disinfection procedures, and failure mode analysis. Biofilm was grown on CAD samples. The specimens were randomly separated into five groups for disinfection: Group 1 received CHX treatment, Group 2 (Phycocyanain) PC treatment, Group 3 PC-PDT, Group 4 PC@ZrO2 NP-PDT, and Group 5 CO2 therapy. After disinfection, CFUs were measured, specimens were reconstituted, and SBS was tested using a universal testing machine (UTM). Stereomicroscope analyzed failures. Kruskal-Walis tested group survival rates. ANOVA and Post Hoc Tukey were used to calculate bond value mean and standard deviation for different disinfection techniques. All analyses used p<0.05. Results: The highest survival rate of S. mutans and Lactobacillus was found in group 2 CAD disinfected with PC only with no activation by PDT. The lowest survival rate of both bacteria was seen in Group 4: PC@ZrO2NP-PDT. Conclusion: PC@ZnO2NP-PDT demonstrated robust antibacterial activity against lactobacillus and S. mutans, albeit with lower bond values when compared to CHX and CO2.