Document Type : Original Research

Authors

• Baharak Divband ^{1, 2}
• Zahraa Haleem Al-qaim ³
• Falah H. Hussein ⁴
• Davood Khezerloo ^{5, 6}
• Nahideh Gharehaghaji ^{5, 6}

¹ Dental and Periodontal Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

² Inorganic Chemistry Department, Chemistry Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

³ Anesthesia Techniques Department, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al_Mustaqbal University, 51001, Babylon, Iraq

⁴ College of Pharmacy, University of Babylon, Iraq

⁵ Department of Radiology, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

⁶ Medical Radiation Sciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Application of the nanomaterials to preparing X-ray shields and successfully treating multiresistant microorganisms has attracted great attention in modern life.
Objective: This study aimed to prepare flexible silicone-based matrices containing Bi₂O₃, PbO, or Bi₂O₃/PbO nanoparticles and select a cost-effective, cytocompatible, and antibacterial/antifungal X-ray shield in clinical radiography.
Material and Methods: In this experimental study, we prepared the nanoparticles by the modified biosynthesis method and fabricated the X-ray shields containing 20 wt% of the nanoparticles. The X-ray attenuation percentage and Half Value Layer (HVL) of the shields were investigated for the photon energies in the range of 40-100 kVp in clinical radiography. The antibacterial/antifungal activities of the shields were evaluated using a colony count method for the gram-negative (Escherichia coli), and gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria, and Candida albicans fungus. The shield toxicity was investigated on A549 cells.
Results: The highest X-ray attenuation percentage and the lowest HVL were obtained using the shield containing Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles. Although all shields displayed antimicrobial activity, the shield containing Bi₂O₃/PbO nanoparticles showed the most effective reduction in the colony counts. Both X-ray shields containing nano Bi₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃/PbO demonstrated high cytocompatibility on A549 cells at a concentration as high as 500 µg/ml. The shield with PbO nanoparticles was also cytocompatible at a concentration of 50 µg/ml.  
Conclusion: The best X-ray attenuation performance is attributed to the silicone-based matrix with nano Bi₂O₃; however, the flexible shield with Bi₂O₃/PbO nanoparticles can be cost-effective and cytocompatible with the best antibacterial/antifungal properties.

Highlights

Baharak Divband (Google Scholar)

Nahideh Gharehaghaji (Google Scholar)

Keywords

• X-Rays
• Shield
• Half Value Layer
• Antimicrobial Activity
• Bi2O3/PbO
• Nanoparticles
• Toxicity