Urchin-like multiscale structured fluorinated hydroxyapatite as versatile filler for caries restoration dental resin composites

Shuning Zhang; Xiao Wang; Shi Yin; Junjun Wang; Hongyan Chen; Xinquan Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.02.004

Urchin-like multiscale structured fluorinated hydroxyapatite as versatile filler for caries restoration dental resin composites

Bioact Mater. 2024 Feb 19:35:477-494. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.02.004. eCollection 2024 May.

Authors

Shuning Zhang¹, Xiao Wang¹, Shi Yin¹, Junjun Wang², Hongyan Chen¹, Xinquan Jiang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Prosthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Advanced Dental Technology and Materials, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
² State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.

Abstract

Caries is one of the most prevalent human diseases, resulting from demineralization of tooth hard tissue caused by acids produced from bacteria, and can progress to pulpal inflammation. Filling restoration with dental resin composites (DRCs) is currently the most common treatment for caries. However, existing DRCs suffer from low fracture strength and lack comprehensive anti-caries bioactivity including remineralization, pulp protection, and anti-cariogenic bacteria effects. In this study, inspired by plant roots' ability to stabilize and improve soil, fluorinated urchin-like hydroxyapatite (FUHA) with a three-dimensional whisker structure and bioactive components of calcium, phosphorus, and fluorine was designed and synthesized by a dynamic self-assembly method. Furthermore, versatile FUHA particles with different loading fractions were used as functional fillers to fabricate methacrylate-based DRCs, where the urchin-like hydroxyapatite (UHA) filled DRCs and commercial DRCs (Z350XT and BEAUTIFIL II) served as the control groups. The results demonstrated that FUHA with 50 wt% loading in resin matrix endowed DRC (F5) with excellent physicochemical properties, dentin remineralization property, cell viability, promotion of dental pulp stem cells mineralization, and antibacterial properties. Meanwhile, F5 also presented good clinical handling and aesthetic characteristics. Therefore, structure/functional-integrated FUHA filled DRCs have potential as a promising strategy for tooth restoration and anti-caries bioactivity.

Keywords: Anti-caries bioactivity; Dental resin composites; Micromechanical interlocking; Tooth remineralization; Versatile fluorinated hydroxyapatite.