Effect of gold nanoparticles and Plant thymus extract against Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation.

Abstract

Dental caries is a biofilm-associated, sugar-dependent, and multifactorial infectious disease, leading to a dynamic demineralization-remineralization process in dental hard tissues. It is primarily mediated by acidogenic bacteria, with Streptococcus mutans recognized as a key etiological agent due to its strong adhesion capabilities and biofilm formation This study evaluates the antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and plant extracts against S. mutans, employing a serial dilution assay at concentrations of 100, 50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 µg/mL. Furthermore, antibiotic susceptibility was assessed against a range of antimicrobial agents. Results demonstrated that AuNPs exhibited a statistically significant reduction in biofilm viability, with greater inhibition observed in root infections comp