Nano-graphene oxide incorporated into PMMA resin to prevent microbial adhesion

Jung-Hwan Lee; Jeong-Ki Jo; Dong-Ae Kim; Kapil Dev Patel; Hae-Won Kim; Hae-Hyoung Lee

doi:10.1016/j.dental.2018.01.019

Nano-graphene oxide incorporated into PMMA resin to prevent microbial adhesion

Dent Mater. 2018 Apr;34(4):e63-e72. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2018.01.019. Epub 2018 Feb 3.

Authors

Jung-Hwan Lee¹, Jeong-Ki Jo², Dong-Ae Kim³, Kapil Dev Patel⁴, Hae-Won Kim⁵, Hae-Hyoung Lee⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea; Department of Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea.
² Department of Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea.
³ Department of Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea; Department of Dental Hygiene, Kyungwoon University, Gumi-si, South Korea.
⁴ Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea; Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea.
⁵ Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea; Department of Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea; Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea.
⁶ Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea; Department of Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, South Korea. Electronic address: haelee@dku.edu.

PMID: 29402540
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2018.01.019

Abstract

Objective: Although polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used as a dental material, a major challenge of using this substance is its poor antimicrobial (anti-adhesion) effects, which increase oral infections. Here, graphene-oxide nanosheets (nGO) were incorporated into PMMA to introduce sustained antimicrobial-adhesive effects by increasing the hydrophilicity of PMMA.

Methods: After characterizing nGO and nGO-incorporated PMMA (up to 2wt%) in terms of morphology and surface characteristics, 3-point flexural strength and hardness were evaluated. The anti-adhesive effects were determined for 4 different microbial species with experimental specimens and the underlying anti-adhesive mechanism was investigated by a non-thermal oxygen plasma treatment. Sustained antimicrobial-adhesive effects were characterized with incubation in artificial saliva for up to 28 days.

Results: The typical nanosheet morphology was observed for nGO. Incorporating nGO into PMMA roughened its surface and increased its hydrophilicity without compromising flexural strength or surface hardness. An anti-adhesive effect after 1h of exposure to microbial species in artificial saliva was observed in nGO-incorporated specimens, which accelerated with increasing levels of nGO without significant cytotoxicity to oral keratinocytes. Plasma treatment of native PMMA demonstrated that the antimicrobial-adhesive effects of nGO incorporation were at least partially due to increased hydrophilicity, not changes in the surface roughness. A sustained antimicrobial-adhesive property against Candida albicans was observed in 2% nGO for up to 28 days.

Significance: The presence of sustained anti-adhesion properties in nGO-incorporated PMMA without loading any antimicrobial drugs suggests the potential usefulness of this compound as a promising antimicrobial dental material for dentures, orthodontic devices and provisional restorative materials.

Keywords: Graphene oxide nanoparticle; Hydrophilicity; Non-thermal oxygen plasma; PMMA; Sustained antimicrobial-adhesive effect.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acrylic Resins / chemistry*
Candida albicans
Cell Adhesion / drug effects*
Dental Materials / chemistry
Elastic Modulus
Escherichia coli
Flexural Strength
Graphite / chemistry*
Hardness
Humans
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Keratinocytes / drug effects
Materials Testing
Microscopy, Electron
Nanoparticles / chemistry*
Oxides / chemistry*
Polymethyl Methacrylate / chemistry*
Saliva, Artificial
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus mutans
Surface Properties

Substances

Acrylic Resins
Dental Materials
Oxides
Saliva, Artificial
Graphite
Polymethyl Methacrylate