Comparison of the Biocidal Efficacy of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate and Calcium Hydroxide as Intracanal Medicaments over a 7-Day Contact Time: An Ex Vivo Study.

Introduction: The use of medicaments has been recommended for the treatment of root canal infection. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of a well-known biocidal agent, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), by comparing it with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)] using an engineered 3-species biofilm root canal model.

Methods: Thirty-eight human single-rooted teeth were decoronated and chemomechanically prepared before inoculation using Enterococcus faecalis, Actinomyces viscosus, and Streptococcus mutans using a flow cell model for 4 weeks for biofilm formation.

"Chocolate" Gold Nanoparticles-One Pot Synthesis and Biocompatibility.

The chemical synthesis of nanoparticles can involve and generate toxic materials. Here, we present for the first time, a one pot direct route to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using natural cacao extract as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); and have excellent biocompatibility with human primary dermal fibroblasts.

Silver nanoparticle modified surfaces induce differentiation of mouse kidney-derived stem cells.

In this paper, we interrogate the influence of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs)-based model surfaces on mouse kidney-derived stem cells (mKSCs) differentiation. The widespread use of silver in biomedical and consumer products requires understanding of this element's effect on kidney cells. Moreover, the potential for using stem cells in drug discovery require methods to direct their differentiation to specialized cells.

'Chocolate' silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity.

Hypothesis: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as a powerful weapon against antibiotic resistant microorganisms. However, most conventional AgNPs syntheses require the use of hazardous chemicals and generate toxic organic waste. Hence, in recent year's, plant derived and biomolecule based synthetics have has gained much attention.

Comparison of a novel bilayered medium with the conventional media for cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background & Objective: There is resurgence of tuberculosis in recent years in spite of availability of comprehensive multidrug therapy. Conventional culture media require a long time for the appearance of growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while the other methods are expensive. Hence, a rapid low cost and safe bilayered medium was developed for early growth and sensitivity testing of M.