{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T09:49:02Z","timestamp":1791884942244,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791849600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791849600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003803","name":"University of Hong Kong","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2202100856"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2202100856"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003803","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Int Endodontic J"],"abstract":"ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n \n Aim<\/jats:title>\n Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is considered the gold standard irrigant in regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) due to its potent antimicrobial activity. However, its clinical application presents a significant paradox: the concentrations required for effective debridement can cause irreversible cytotoxicity to stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs), while lower concentrations often fail to eliminate biofilms within the complex root canal system. Graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are zero\u2010dimensional carbon\u2010based nanomaterials with intrinsic peroxidase\u2010like activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capabilities. This study investigated whether GOQDs could simultaneously enhance the antibacterial efficacy of NaOCl while mitigating its cytotoxic effects on SCAPs.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methodology<\/jats:title>\n \n The antibacterial effect of GOQDs (50\u2009\u03bcg\/mL) combined with NaOCl (1.5%) was evaluated against planktonic bacteria and single\u2010\/multi\u2010species biofilms of\n \n Enterococcus faecalis<\/jats:italic>\n <\/jats:styled-content>\n and\n \n Streptococcus gordonii<\/jats:italic>\n <\/jats:styled-content>\n using growth curve monitoring, colony\u2010forming unit counting, crystal violet staining, CCK\u20108 assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The underlying mechanisms were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, SYTO 9\/propidium iodide membrane integrity assay, DCFH\u2010DA intracellular ROS detection and methylene blue decolorization assay. The cytoprotective effect of GOQDs on NaOCl\u2010exposed SCAPs was assessed using CCK\u20108, live\/dead staining and DCFH\u2010DA ROS staining.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n GOQDs enhanced the antibacterial and anti\u2010biofilm activity of NaOCl against both planktonic bacteria and biofilms. Mechanistically, GOQDs physically disrupted bacterial cell membranes and augmented NaOCl\u2010mediated oxidative degradation via peroxidase\u2010like catalytic activity, as evidenced by methylene blue decolorization (catalytic enhancement rate: 55.9%). Notably, GOQDs did not elevate bacterial intracellular ROS levels; instead, they enabled a transient ROS burst followed by rapid consumption. Furthermore, GOQDs significantly mitigated NaOCl\u2010induced cytotoxicity in SCAPs, restoring cell viability from approximately 3% (NaOCl alone) to 15% (combination group) and reducing ROS overproduction.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n GOQDs offer a potential strategy to address the disinfection\u2010regeneration conflict in RET by enhancing NaOCl\u2010mediated biofilm eradication while simultaneously scavenging ROS to protect SCAPs from oxidative damage. This concentration\u2010dependent dual functionality positions GOQDs as a promising adjunctive agent to optimise irrigation protocols and advance clinical outcomes in regenerative endodontic therapies.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/iej.70292","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T09:33:28Z","timestamp":1791884008000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots Enhance Antibacterial Efficacy of Sodium Hypochlorite and Mitigate Cytotoxicity to Stem Cells From the Apical Papilla: An in Vitro Study"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-8295-0432","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mengyu","family":"Huang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, SAR"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Penghe","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, SAR"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3621-4866","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Waruna Lakmal","family":"Dissanayaka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Applied Oral Sciences & Community Dental Care, Faculty of Dentistry The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, SAR"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cynthia K. Y.","family":"Yiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, SAR"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1186\/s12951-024-02422-7","article-title":"Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell Sheets Activated by Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots Repair Periodontal Bone Defects by Promoting Mitochondrial Dynamics Dependent Osteogenic Differentiation","volume":"22","author":"An N.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Nanobiotechnology"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_12_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"812","DOI":"10.1038\/s41396-021-01130-6","article-title":"Inter\u2010Species Interactions Alter Antibiotic Efficacy in Bacterial Communities","volume":"16","author":"Bottery M. 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