1Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
Email: 152308001.sdc@saveetha.com
2*Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India (Corresponding Author)
Email: nivethigaab.sdc@saveetha.com
3Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
4Department of Biomaterials, Research Department Blue Lab, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
Orthodontic adhesives play a critical role in the successful bonding of fixed appliances; however, their prolonged presence in the oral cavity favors plaque accumulation and subsequent microbial colonization, increasing the risk of enamel demineralization and white spot lesion formation. Incorporation of antibacterial agents into orthodontic adhesives has therefore gained increasing attention as a preventive strategy. This study aimed to synthesize copper-substituted hydroxyapatite (Cu-HAp) nanoparticles using the co-precipitation method and to evaluate their antibacterial efficacy when incorporated into an orthodontic adhesive. The successful synthesis of Cu-HAp nanoparticles was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which demonstrated characteristic functional groups and uniform nanoscale morphology. Antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring zones of inhibition against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans. The Cu-HAp–modified adhesive exhibited significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity and improved material stability compared with the conventional adhesive and standard antibiotic controls. These findings suggest that Cu-HAp nanoparticle–reinforced orthodontic adhesives may serve as a promising antibacterial material for reducing microbial colonization around orthodontic appliances.
Keywords: Orthodontic adhesive, Copper-substituted hydroxyapatite, Nanoparticles, Antibacterial activity, Streptococcus mutans, White spot lesions.
How to cite this article: Nehru A, Balakrishnan N, Ramsundar K, Pugal Mani S. Invitro Evaluation of an Orthodontic Adhesive Incorporated with Copper-Substituted Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Antibacterial Assessment. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(7s): 696-703; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.7s.74
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None