Experimental in vivo evaluation of the activity of hydroxyapatite modified with selenium nanoparticles against caries in laboratory animals

The aim of this work was to study the anti-carious properties of hydroxyappatite modified with selenium nanoparticles (Se-HA) on a model of experimental dental caries in white rats. The experiment was performed in 36 white rats, divided into 3 experimental groups: intact (Group 1), control group with cariesogenic diet (Group 2), and test subject with cariesogenic diet in combination with Se-HA dental treatment (Group 3). The use of Se-HA is accompanied by a caries protective effect. No significant changes in blood biochemical parameters were observed in animals from group 3 compared to animals from group 1. At the same time, group 3 animals showed a significant decrease in ALT levels compared to group 2 animals. Notably, the concentration of Ca and P in rats treated with Se-HA increased, while the concentration of creatinine significantly decreased in animals of Group 3. Among intact rats of Group 1, tooth caries was detected in one case only on day 90 (12.5%). In rats of Group 2, on the 60th day of observation, 33.3% had caries. In rats of Group 3, caries was detected in 13.4% of animals to the 60th day. On the 90th day of observation, the ratio of the prevalence of caries in animals of Groups 2 and 3 was 53.6% and 25.0%, and on the 120th day- 100% and 67%, respectively. The study of the intensity of caries in animals on the 90th day showed the following: 0.33±0.06 in Group 1, 3.45±0.24 in Group 2, and 1.22±0.09 in Group 3.