Abstract
Background Glass ionomer cement (GIC) serves as a crucial biomaterial in dental restoration, offering applications in filling, lining, and adhesive procedures. Nevertheless, its mechanical properties often fall short, particularly in regions subjected to considerable stress. To address this issue, zirconia nanoparticles are incorporated at specific levels. Aim To assess the antimicrobial efficacy and compressive resilience of GIC modified with zirconia nanoparticles synthesized through green synthesis methods. Material and methods Zirconia nanoparticles were synthesized via a green method utilizing aloe vera extract in solvent form. These nanoparticles were then mixed into GIC at different concentration levels. Group I incorporated zirconia nanoparticles at a concentration of 3%, Group II at 5%, and Group III at 10%, while Group IV was the control, consisting of traditional GIC. Following that, samples were prepared and underwent characterization through various analytical techniques. The ability to inhibit microbial growth and the compressive resilience of the groups were examined. Microbial inhibition against the bacterial strains was assessed through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and the ability to withstand compression was gauged by measuring the maximum force the specimen could endure before fracturing. Data underwent analysis with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 24.0, Armonk, NY). Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) were utilized to gauge average MIC values and compressive strength. Following this, Tukey's post hoc test was employed for pairwise comparisons. Results The findings indicated, incorporating zirconia nanoparticles into GIC led to an improvement in its antimicrobial effectiveness, with a noticeable enhancement observed as the weight percent (% wt) of the additive increased. This improvement was notably noticeable in its effectiveness against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus, exceeding that of the control with a noteworthy distinction. Furthermore, there were significant enhancements in compressive strength, in Group I (180.48 ± 1.02), Group II (191.25 ± 0.52), and Group III (197.52 ± 0.75), compared to Group IV (167.22 ± 1.235), with significant disparities (p < 0.05). Conclusion The research illustrates that introducing green-synthesized zirconia nanoparticles into GIC leads to heightened bactericidal potency and compressive resilience when contrasted with the control group (Group IV). Notably, the highest concentration of 10% demonstrated the most favourable antimicrobial attributes alongside enhanced strength. Consequently, integrating green-synthesized zirconia nanoparticles into GIC holds potential as a proficient material. In future studies, there should be an exploration of molecular chemistry and bonding mechanisms to enhance our comprehension of its capabilities.