Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of single-walled carbon nanotubes when combined with the commonly used intracanal medicaments by checking their zone of inhibition against Enterococcus faecalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The test materials were divided into five different groups, namely, Group I: single-walled carbon nanotubes; Group II: calcium hydroxide; Group III: chlorhexidine; Group IV: single-walled carbon nanotubes + calcium hydroxide; and Group V: single-walled carbon nanotubes + chlorhexidine. Five sterile Petri plates per group were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis); wells were made in the plates, one on each side, and a volume of 50 microliters of each solution was dispensed into individual wells using a pipette. The specimens were placed in an incubator at 37°C for a duration of 48 hours. The area of inhibition surrounding each well was documented and assessed. The statistical analysis was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. RESULTS: Single-walled carbon nanotubes combined with chlorhexidine have shown the highest antimicrobial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis in comparison to all the test groups. CONCLUSION: This study showcases the antimicrobial effectiveness of a blend of single-walled carbon nanotubes and chlorhexidine solution. It may be developed as a potent intracanal medicament in the future.