Objectives: 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) has been shown to cross-link dentin type I collagen. Increased cross-linking usually elevates the glass transition temperature of polymers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-linking reaction promoted by EDC in different aqueous concentrations by measuring the thermal denaturation temperature (Td) of human dentin collagen.
Methods: The Td of dehydrated collagen and of insoluble dentin matrix collagen immersed in 0.5M or 1M EDC aqueous solution for different treatment times was obtained using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). Specimens were also analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy.
Results: EDC-treated dentin collagen showed a significantly higher Td than the untreated specimens when immersed in either 0.5M EDC or 1M EDC for 10min or longer (p<0.05). EDC-treated dentin collagen showed an increase of sulfur and chloride, not detectable in EDC-untreated dentin specimens. Conversely, the relative amount of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen was not modified by treatments.
Significance: EDC-treated dentin collagen showed a higher Td than the untreated control at all tested concentrations and immersion times. A higher Td can be considered an indirect indicator of a more resistant and highly cross-linked collagen network. More data are needed to confirm these results.
Keywords: Collagen; Cross-linking; Differential scanning calorimetry; EDC; Thermal denaturation.
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