Abstract

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a causative agent of periodontal disease and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Novel treatment of periodontal disease using nanomaterials can supplement or replace the use of antibiotics and mechanical debridement. Nanomaterials can be optimized for effectiveness and specificity and minimum toxicity. Synthesized Ag nanoparticles stabilized in Pluronic F127 were used to produce bimetallic core/shell Ag/Au nanoparticles with optimized Ag+ release and reduced toxicity. We tested the F127-stabilized nanoparticles for their antimicrobial activity and hemocompatibility in planktonic bacteria and citrated whole blood, respectively. Both Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles inhibited P. gingivalis W83 growth. We then evaluated the hemocompatibility of the nanoparticles and the stabilizer F127 by probing their impact on platelet activation. Pluronic F127, over a range from 1 – 10-11 % w/v, on its own activated platelets above baseline (p-value 0.05). In contrast, Pluronic 127-stabilized Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles did not induce platelet activation above baseline (p-value 0.05). Our results suggest the Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles are effective inhibitors of bacterial growth, and stabilizer Pluronic F127 can activate platelets. More careful characterization of the role of Pluronic F127 in the context of thrombosis/hemostasis is needed.

LLU Discipline

Biology

Department

Biology

School

School of Medicine

First Advisor

Danilo Boskovic

Second Advisor

Hansel Fletcher

Third Advisor

William Hayes

Fourth Advisor

So Ran Kwon

Fifth Advisor

Kevin Nick

Sixth Advisor

Christopher Perry

Seventh Advisor

Ubaldo Soto

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2019

Date (Title Page)

3-2020

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Porphyromonas gingivalis; Nanoparticles

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xv, 181 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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