Getting to the root of root canals: Nanoparticles offer enhanced treatment

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated that ferumoxytol, an U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved iron oxide nanoparticle formulation, greatly reduces infection in patients diagnosed with apical periodontitis. The researchers showed that topical applications of ferumoxytol in combination with hydrogen peroxide potently disrupt biofilms – dense, sticky communities of bacteria that attach to surfaces and cause infections. The researchers treated 44 patients with periapical periodontitis and found that patients who received ferumoxytol/hydrogen peroxide achieved a 99.9% reduction in bacterial counts without experiencing any adverse effects.