Through nanotechnology towards the next generation dental restorative materials
NANODENT
PN-III-P4-PCE-2021-0292
(92PCE/2022)
The solution developed in the research project will lead to a completion of the teeth treatment through the possibility of having antibacterial properties and slow release after the cavity is closed, with enhanced mechanical properties.
Project goal
The main goal of the project is to propose a potential dental restorative material with simultaneous antibacterial properties and enhanced mechanical strength, based on substituted apatitic nanomaterials (decorated with metallic nanoparticles) and natural compounds, applicable in cement base (glass-ionomer cements).
Contracting authority: Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI)
Implementation period: 09/05/2022-31/12/2024
Budget: 1.200.000 lei
Project director: Dr. Habil. Radu Claudiu Fierăscu
The scientific concept of the project is based on some specific logical steps:
S1. Synthesis of modified apatitic nanomaterials (MAN), substituted with different metals such as zinc, silver, titanium etc., and further decorated with mono or bimetallic phytosynthesized nanoparticles and metallic oxides nanoparticles (such as silver and silver oxide nanoparticles, zinc and zinc oxides nanoparticles, silver/zinc bimetallic nanoparticles, etc.), with controlled morphologies and properties;
S2. Demonstration of their enhanced properties;
S3. Enriching the MAN with natural compounds (commercially available polyphenols, such as eugenol, gallic acid, or catechin, for example) – NNC;
S4. Obtaining nanoparticle-based platforms (incorporation of apatitic materials enhanced with natural compounds in glass-ionomer cements – NGI);
S5. Demonstration of the enhanced properties of the obtained
nanoparticle-based platforms (NGI);
S6. Demonstration of their efficiency in the laboratory model (simulated conditions);
S7. Validation of the proposed solution.
The main goal of the project is to propose a potential dental restorative material with simultaneous antibacterial properties and enhanced mechanical strength, based on substituted apatitic nanomaterials (decorated with metallic nanoparticles) and natural compounds, applicable in cement base (glass-ionomer cements). The degree of novelty of the proposed project emerges from the properties of the proposed material related with potential final application: simultaneous antibacterial and enhanced mechanical strength of the developed nanomaterials-based structures, applicable in the cement base (glass-ionomer cements).
The specific objectives that will ensure the achievement of project aim are:
SO1. development of substituted apatitic materials with enhanced antimicrobial properties;
SO2. phytosynthesis of mono and bimetallic nanoparticles based on “green chemistry” approaches (with extracts obtained from autochthonous plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family – Thymus serpyllum L., 1753, Satureja hortensis L., 1753, Melissa officinalis L., Mentha spicata L., etc.) and their application for the decoration of the apatitic materials, in order to obtain modified apatitic nanomaterials (MAN) with enhanced antimicrobial properties
SO3. enrichment of the MAN with natural compounds (NNC)
SO4.incorporation of NNC in glass-ionomer cements and the demonstration of their efficiency
Development of apatitic nanostructures with potential use in improving current dental restorative materials.
Deployment period: 09/05/2022 – 31/12/2022
Activities:
Optimizing the decoration of apatitic materials. Enrichment of apatitic materials modified with natural compounds – part I.
Deployment period: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2023
Activities:
Enrichment of apatitic materials modified with natural compounds – part II. Incorporation of modified apatitic materials enhanced with natural compounds in glass ionomer cements (for obtaining platforms based on nanomaterials – NGI) and study of their influence on the mechanical properties of GIC. Demonstration and validation of the improved properties of the obtained NGIs.
Deployment period: 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024
Activities:
Institutional & personal awards
Summary
Acidic attack by cariogenic bacteria associated with plaque biofilm development is responsible for dental caries, a biofilm-dependent infectious disease that damages teeth through mineral loss and has a high incidence of the use of polymers for clinical restoration. The complexity of oral biofilms contributes to the difficulty of developing new effective dental materials. The oral cavity is an ideal environment for microbial cell growth, persistence and plaque formation.
The presence of different microniches leads to the appearance of different biofilm communities, formed on the surface of the teeth, above the gingival crevice or at the subgingival level, on the tongue, mucous membranes or on dental prosthetic materials. In this context, nanotechnology has the potential to be explored in the development of bioactive dental materials to reduce or modulate the activities of caries-related bacteria. The main goal of the project is to propose a potential dental restorative material with antibacterial properties simultaneously with increased mechanical resistance, based on substituted apatitic nanomaterials (decorated with metal nanoparticles) and natural compounds, applicable in glass ionomer cements. The project proposal responds to a real practical demand arising from discussions with the dental community.
The degree of novelty of the proposed project emerges from the properties of the proposed material related to the potential final application: improved mechanical resistance and simultaneous antibacterial activity of the structures developed based on nanomaterials, applicable in glass ionomer cements.
The activities planned to be carried out during the first year of implementation were:
The proposed activities were carried out in full, supporting the continuation of the project in the year 2023. Thus, they identified the possibilities of incorporating different types of target materials (apatitic materials, nanoparticles, etc.) and both apatitic materials and phytosynthesized metal nanoparticles were developed and studied .
The obtained results were disseminated within the scientific community, the results of the dissemination being widely presented on the project website (Romanian version – https://icechim.ro/project/nanodent/, English version – https:// icechim.ro/project/nanodent_en/), but also through the weekly Newsletter of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization.
No | Estimated results | Obtained results |
---|---|---|
1 | Preliminary report on the development of modified apatite nanomaterials (NAM); | The preliminary report on the possibilities to develop modified apatite nanomaterials was performed, synthesizing and characterizing a series of modified apatite materials |
2 | Report on the possibilities of incorporating the developed nanomaterials into glass ionomer cements | The report on the modification of glass ionomer cements with nanomaterials was elaborated (published as a review paper) |
3 | Preliminary report on the antimicrobial properties of apatite nanomaterials | The preliminary report on the antimicrobial properties of the obtained apatite materials was elaborated |
4 | Report on the antimicrobial properties of phytosynthesized NP | The report on the antimicrobials properties of phytosynthesized NPs was elaborated (published as two ISI articles) |
5 | Submission for publication of at least two ISI articles in Q1/Q2 journals | Three ISI articles were published in Q1/Q2 journals |
6 | Participation in at least one scientific event | Two participations in international scientific events were recorded |
7 | Participation in at least 1 invention salon | Three participations in invention salons were recorded, obtaining a series of prizes, presented on the project website |
8 | Project web page and online campaign on social media | The project website was developed, both in Romanian and in English; of the project was disseminated through social media, but also through MCID’s weekly Newsletter |