Synthesis of carbon nanoparticles from mustard oil and evaluation of their antibacterial activity against dental caries

Dental infections are thorny since time immemorial mainly due to the accumulation of plaque on the teeth surface. Antibiotics are slowly losing their capability to degrade bacteria due to development of resistance in them which necessitates the need of new drug formulations. The role of carbon for tartar and plaque removal in the form of charcoal powder is seen for ages. Hence, in this study, nanotised form of carbon has been exploited for their role against resistant bacteria. Green synthesis of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) was accomplished from the soot of the burning mustard oil which was collected on clay pots. The synthesised particles were characterised by UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Antibiotic sensitivity test of the isolated oral bacteria from dental cavity, post cavity and cavity-free patients was done in order to find out the antibiotic resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial efficiency (minimum inhibitory concentration) of CNPs was carried out on these antibiotic resistant bacteria and observed their microbial killing potential. Hemolysis assay was conducted to comprehend the toxicity of these nanoparticles on human cells. Cell viability study on MRC-5 cell line showed that nanoparticles are safe to use.