Bacterial/fungal biofilm-mediated persistent endodontic infections (PEIs) are one of the most frequent clinical lesions in the oral cavity, resulting in apical periodontitis and tooth damage caused by loss of minerals. The conventional root canal disinfectants are poorly bio-safe and harmful to teeth and tissues, making them ineffective in treating PEIs. The development of nanomaterials is emerging as a promising strategy to eradicate disease-related bacteria/fungi. Herein, glucose oxidase (GOx)-modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized via a facile and versatile route for investigating their effects on removing PEI-related bacterial/fungal biofilms. It is found that GOx was successfully immobilized on the MNPs by detecting the changes in the diameter, chemical functional group, charge, and magnetic response. Further, we demonstrate that GOx-modified MNPs (GMNPs) exhibit highly effective antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. Moreover, the antibacterial/fungal activity of GMNPs is greatly dependent on their concentrations. Importantly, when placed in contact with bacterial/fungal biofilms, the dense biofilm matrix is destructed due to the movement of GMNPs induced by the magnetic field, the formation of reactive oxygen species, and nutrient starvation induced by GOx. Also, the in vitro experiment shows that the as-prepared GMNPs have excellent cytocompatibility and blood compatibility. Thus, GMNPs offer a novel strategy to treat bacteria/fungi-associated PEIs for potential clinical applications.

Titanium (Ti) implants are widely used in dentistry and orthopedics owing to their excellent corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties, which have gained increasing attention from the viewpoints of fundamental research and practical applications. Also, numerous studies have been carried out to fine-tune the micro/nanostructures of Ti and/or incorporate chemical elements to improve overall implant performance. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) are well-known for their good antibacterial properties and low cytotoxicity along with their ability to synergize with a variety of substances, which have received increasingly widespread attention as biomodification materials for implants. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on nano-ZnO modified Ti-implants. Their preparation methods of nano-ZnO modified Ti-implants are introduced, followed by a further presentation of the antibacterial, osteogenic, and anti-corrosion properties of these implants. Finally, challenges and future opportunities for nano-ZnO modified Ti-implants are proposed. Graphical Abstract

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