Fabrication of enamel-like structure on polymer-infiltrated zirconia ceramics

Ke Li; Huamin Kou; Jiancun Rao; Cheng Liu; Congqin Ning

doi:10.1016/j.dental.2021.01.002

Fabrication of enamel-like structure on polymer-infiltrated zirconia ceramics

Dent Mater. 2021 Apr;37(4):e245-e255. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.01.002. Epub 2021 Jan 30.

Authors

Ke Li¹, Huamin Kou², Jiancun Rao³, Cheng Liu⁴, Congqin Ning⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China; Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
² State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China.
³ AIM Lab, Maryland NanoCenter, University of Maryland, MD 20742, USA.
⁴ School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China; Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: cqning@mail.sic.ac.cn.

PMID: 33531149
DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.01.002

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to improve the biological and mechanical properties of zirconia-based PICN (polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network) materials by fabrication an enamel-like structure on its surface.

Methods: Fluorapatite (FA) arrays were fabricated on zirconia discs by hydrothermal treatment. After polymer infiltration, an enamel-like structure was obtained on zirconia-based PICN materials. Effects of hydrothermal treatment conditions on the FA arrays were investigated by XRD, FTIR and SEM. Human gingival fibroblast cells (HGFs) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used to evaluate the cytocompatibility and antibacterial properties. Nanoindentation method was employed to determine elastic modulus and hardness.

Results: A facile and pervasive method was developed in this study to fabricate an enamel-like structure constituted of controlled FA arrays and interstitial resin on zirconia-based PICN materials. The obtained FA arrays can significantly promote the adhesion and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and further effectively inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli. Owing to the hierarchical structure, the enamel-like structure has achieved a hardness of 1.79 GPa and a lower Young's modulus of 37.4 GPa.

Significances: The enamel-like structure, with excellent biological and mechanical properties, is promising for various applications in dentistry.

Keywords: Antibacterial property; Enamel; Fluorapatite arrays; Zirconia.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Ceramics
Dental Enamel
Dental Porcelain*
Escherichia coli
Humans
Materials Testing
Polymers*
Surface Properties
Zirconium

Substances

Polymers
Dental Porcelain
Zirconium
zirconium oxide