Efficacy of silver nanoparticle gel on healing of traumatic oral ulcers compared with triamcinolone oral paste: An experimental study on rats

Abstract

Background: There are many treatment protocols for relieving pain and accelerating oral ulcer
healing. The purpose was to evaluate the anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial effect of silver
nanoparticle (AgNP) gel on oral ulcers compared with the traditional treatment in animal model.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 72 adult male rats were randomly allocated
into four groups, after ulcer induction: control (receive no treatment), placebo (placebo gel was
applied on ulcers once daily), triamcinolone (ulcers were treated with triamcinolone paste once
daily), and AgNPs (ulcers were treated with AgNP gel once daily). The animals were sacrificed at
three successive periods of 3, 7, and 14 days after ulcer induction. Histopathological scores of
re‑epithelialization and degree of inflammation were assessed. The wound size was measured
clinically. For parametric data, the analysis of variance, and for ordinal histopathological data, the
Kruskal–Wallis test using SPSS was done. A P < 0.05 was considered statically significant.
Results: Control and placebo groups had no case of complete healing. Improvement of
wound size by triamcinolone paste was not significant in different days but showed significant
differences in degree of inflammation (P < 0.001) and re‑epithelialization (P = 0.012). Reduction
of wound size by AgNPs gel had significant difference at 14th day (P < 0.001); further, by this
gel, significant differences in degree of inflammation and re‑epithelialization were seen in
long‑term medication.
Conclusion: AgNP gel could be effective in oral ulcer healing clinically and histopathologically.
Although this gel showed delayed effect, it had better healing effect according to the cases with
complete healing. Hence, the application of AgNP oral gel can be considered as an alternative
approach for oral ulcers.
Key Words: Inflammation, nanoparticle, oral ulcer, re‑epithelialization, silver, triamcinolone
acetonide, wound healing