Bone substitute nanomaterials for enhancing the apatite- forming capacity of dental repair material
Apatite-forming ability, Bioactivity, Surface mineralization, Ca/P ratio, Surface chemical reactivity, Dental cement.
AuthorsABSTRACTObjective: To analyse the apatite-forming ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA Angelus) modified with nano-carbonated hydroxyapatite (nCHAp) as a bioactive endodontic biomaterial. Methods: Disc specimens (10.0 ± 0.1 mm diameter; 2.0 ± 0.1 mm thickness) were made-up from unmodified MTA (control) and MTA hold 2, 3, and 4 wt% nCHAp (n=12/group). After setting for 24 h at 37 °C and relative humidity, six specimens per group were immersed in 20 mL sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) at 37 °C for 21 days with PBS renewal every 3 days; the remaining six were stored dry. Surface mineralization was measured by fieldemission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX; five spots/specimen) with Ca/P ratio calculation, and Xray diffraction (XRD) for phase finding. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA/Tukey tests (α = 0.05). Results: PBS exposure evoked calciumphosphate deposition on all immersed specimens. Unmodified MTA showed porous spherical Ca–P aggregates agreeable with amorphous calcium phosphate; phosphorus emerged (13.60 wt%) and Ca/P was 2.49, indicating calcium-rich, immature surface deposits. nCHAp incorporation enhanced mineralization in a concentration-dependent manner: 2 wt% produced an early nucleation layer change into lamellar/plate-like crystallites, whereas 3–4 wt% yielded continuous nano-crystalline apatite layers with needle/plate morphologies and rosette-like aggregates. Post-immersion Ca/P ratios decreased to 1.80, 1.76, and 1.70 for 2%, 3%, and 4% nCHAp, respectively, approaching biologically relevant apatite. XRD confirmed hydroxyapatite/carbonated hydroxyapatite reflections with decreased silicate/portlandite intensities after immersion. Conclusions: Adding 2–4 wt% nCHAp speeding biomimetic apatite formation on MTA, encouraging its potential for regenerative endodontic repair and reinforced dentin–material interfacial mineralization. Clinical Relevance: Boosting the bioactivity to make the seal tighter and help the hard tissue heal more effectively. these could make MTA last longer and work more reliably in root canal treatments.
INTRODUCTIONIn recent years, there's been a lot of exciting progress in dental materials. The rise of new restoratives and products that help to regenerate bone. These advancements have really changed the way dentists approach treatments and have improved results for patients1. Lately, there's been a lot more focus on bioactive materials because of their beneficial interactions with biological tissues, because these materials can actually trigger helpful biological responses when they come into contact with cells and tissues. They aid natural repair and regeneration processes, which ultimately lead to better oral health2 . Calcium hydroxide, the first endodontic material known for its ability to encourage the formation of a dentinal bridge over exposed pulp tissue3. Over time, newer materials like mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and similar calcium silicate cements were developed. These are basically portland cement
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