Nanozymes in the management of Dental caries and Dental pulp diseases – a scoping review

Introduction: Background and Rationale: The identification of Peroxidase-like activity in magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles led to the development of functional nanomaterials called Nanozymes (NZs) with enzyme-like activities [1]. In 2016, Fe3O4 NPs with POD-like activity were used to treat oral plaque biofilm [2]. Their biological effects, like antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, and biosensing capability, have made them a favorable option for treating various conditions like tumors and infections and for promoting tissue regeneration [3]. They were evaluated for their antibiofilm and remineralization effects in the treatment of dental caries and dental pulp diseases [3-6]. This scoping review aims to elaborate on the available literature on NZs in the treatment of dental caries and dental pulpal disorders, highlight the research gaps, and outline future research prospects. Objectives: Primary objective: To identify a) the kinds of evidence that currently exist regarding the use of NZs in the treatment of dental caries and dental pulp diseases; b) the kinds of NZs that have been used in different studies; c) their therapeutic qualities that are helpful in the treatment of dental caries and dental pulp diseases Secondary objective: To identify research gaps in the evidence that currently exists regarding the use of NZs in the treatment of dental caries and dental pulp diseases. Methods: This scoping review will be conducted according to the Arksey and O’Malley framework for the scoping reviews and will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) to ensure a transparent and systematic approach [7,8]. The research question will be as follows: "What is the current evidence on the applications of NZs in the management of dental caries and dental pulp diseases?" Inclusion Criteria All peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and other literature related to the use of NZs in the treatment of dental caries and dental pulp disorders will be included. Exclusion Criteria Editorials, conference presentations, and studies describing the effects of NZs under conditions other than dental caries and pulpal disorders will not be included. Information Sources and Search Strategy Databases to be searched include Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Embase and Web of Science. The search strategy will include MeSH terms and keywords. Search terms will include " Nanozymes AND Dental Caries" and " Nanozymes AND Dental Pulp." No geographical or publication date restrictions will be applied. Screening and Data Extraction Two independent reviewers will conduct title and abstract screening and any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. The full-text screening will also be performed independently by two reviewers. Data extraction will be done using a standardized form. Data extraction will include authors and year of study, study design, type of NZ, the mechanism of action of the NZ, summary and conclusion. Citation management will be done using Zotero and selected articles will be imported to Zotero for screening. Synthesis and Presentation of Results Data charting will be done in Excel. Results will be presented using tables, figures, and thematic synthesis based on the objectives. A PRISMA ScR flow diagram will be provided to show the study selection process. Ethics and Dissemination Ethical approval is not required as this is a scoping review that involves analysis of existing data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. This review will apprise the evidence on the applications of NZs in dental caries and dental pulp diseases, type of NZs, their mechanism of action, the existing research gaps and future directions in applications of NZs in the management of dental caries and dental pulp diseases. References 1. 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