Multifunctional Bioactive Resin for Dental Restorative Materials.

Loredana Tammaro,Anna Calarco,Vittoria Vittoria,Anna Di Salle,Ilenia De Luca,Francesco Riccitiello,Andrea Sorrentino,Gianfranco Peluso

doi:10.3390/polym12020332

Abstract

Resin-based composites are widely used as dental restorative materials due to their excellent properties. They must have high modulus, high hardness, and be chemically inert while minimizing moisture uptake. To fulfill these higher standard prerequisites and properties, continuous improvements in each of their components are required. This study develops novel composites with multiple biofunctions. Light-cured Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resin (RK)/layered double hydroxide intercalated with fluoride ions (LDH-F)/calcium bentonite (Bt) hybrid composites were prepared. The loading ratio of LDH-F to Bt was varied, ranging from 2.5/2.5 to 10/10 parts per hundred RK and structural, mechanical, and biological properties were studied. The incorporation of even small mass fractions (e.g., 2.5 wt% of LDH-F and 2.5 wt% of Bt) in RK dental resin significantly improved the mechanical properties of the pristine resin. The synthetized materials showed antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against three bacterial strains isolated from healthy volunteers’ saliva (Streptococcus spp., Bacteroides fragilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) without affecting its ability to induce dental pulp stem cells differentiation into odontoblast-like cells. The capability to balance between the antibiofilm activity and dental pulp stem cells differentiation in addition with improved mechanical properties make these materials a promising strategy in preventive and restorative dentistry.

Highlights

In recent years, numerous synthetic materials have been developed in the field of dentistry with the aim of reconstructing and maintaining the oral function, health, and aesthetics of the patients [1,2].Among these materials, resin-based composites are probably the most important from the aesthetics and performance point of view [3,4]
Light-cured bisphenol-A glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA)/tri-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) dental resin (RK)/layered double hydroxide intercalated with fluoride ions (LDH-F)/calcium bentonite (Bt) hybrid composites were prepared
This study presents the synthesis of a light-cured Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resin (RK)/layered double hydroxide intercalated with fluoride ions (LDH-F)/calcium bentonite (Bt), named RK-FBtx, as a new hybrid composite material for use in dentistry

Summary

Introduction

Numerous synthetic materials have been developed in the field of dentistry with the aim of reconstructing and maintaining the oral function, health, and aesthetics of the patients [1,2].Among these materials, resin-based composites are probably the most important from the aesthetics and performance point of view [3,4]. Soluble fluorine-based salts have been introduced in the formulation of these composites in order to have a release over time. These salts present an initial burst release and, when removed, tend to leave micropores in the bulk material with a consequent loss of mechanical properties. These problems can be reduced by introducing fluorine, aluminum, and silicate based fillers with less solubility. Fused modified fillers such as silica whiskers and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous or tetracalcium phosphate have been proposed to release Ca and PO4 ions [27]

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Results

Conclusion