Dong-Ae Kim

Chitosan–nanobioactive glass electrophoretic coatings with bone regenerative and drug delivering potential

Nanocomposites with bone-bioactivity and drug eluting capacity are considered as potentially valuable coating materials for metallic bone implants. Here, we developed composite coatings of chitosan (CH)–bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGn) via cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD). BGn 50–100 nm in size with aminated surface were suspended with CH molecules at different ratios (5–20 wt% BGn) in aqueous medium, and EPD was performed. Uniform coatings with thicknesses of a few to tens of micrometers were produced, which was controllable by the EPD parameters (voltage, pH and time). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the quantity of BGn within the coatings that well corresponded to that initially incorporated. Apatite forming ability of the coatings, performed in simulated body fluid, was significantly improved by the addition of BGn. Degradation of the coatings increased with increasing BGn addition. Of note, the degradation profile was almost linear with time; degradation of 5–13 wt% during 1 week became 30–40 wt% after 7 weeks at almost a constant rate. The CH–BGn coatings showed favorable cell adhesion and growth, and stimulated osteogenic differentiation. Drug loading and release capacity of the CH–BGn coatings were performed using the ampicillin antibiotic as a model drug. Ampicillin, initially incorporated within the CH–BGn suspension, was eluted from the coatings continuously over 10–11 weeks, confirming long-term drug delivering capacity. Antibacterial tests also confirmed the effects of released ampicillin using agar diffusion assay against Streptococcus mutants. The CH–BGn may be potentially useful as a coating composition for metallic implants due to the excellent bone bioactivity and cell responses, as well as the capacity for long-term drug delivery.

Development of long-term antimicrobial poly(methyl methacrylate) by incorporating mesoporous silica nanocarriers.

OBJECTIVE Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) used as removable denture bases or orthodontic appliances has relatively poor antimicrobial properties, which accelerate oral infection and induce unfavorable odors. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been highlighted as a potential additive to overcome this issue because of their drug-loading capacity. Here, we present the long-term antimicrobial effect of MSN-incorporated PMMA with drug-loading capacity. METHODS After the MSNs were characterized, MSN incorporation into chemically activated PMMA (0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5wt%) relative to the methyl methacrylate powder by mass was fabricated into a rectangular specimen (1.4×3.0×19.0mm) for a 3-point flexural test at a speed of 1mm/min or a disk (∅=11.5mm and d=1.5mm) for investigation of its antimicrobial effects. RESULTS A typical spherical morphology with a well-ordered mesoporous structure of the MSNs was visualized and is beneficial for loading drugs and combining in matrixes. Among the tested levels of MSN incorporation in PMMA (0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5wt%), only 5wt% decreased the flexural strength (p<0.05), whereas the flexural modulus was not significantly decreased (p>0.05). The surface roughness and surface energy were increased with 2.5wt% or 5wt% incorporation. An anti-adherent effect against Candida albicans and Streptococcus oralis after 1h of attachment was only observed with 2.5 and 5wt% incorporation compared to a lack of MSNs (p<0.05). A long-term antimicrobial effect was observed for 2 weeks with 2.5wt% MSN-incorporated PMMA when amphotericin B was loaded into the MSNs on the PMMA surface. SIGNIFICANCE The long-term antimicrobial performance after loading amphotericin B into the MSN-incorporated PMMA suggests the potential clinical usefulness of MSN-incorporated PMMA resin.

Development of a novel aluminum-free glass ionomer cement based on magnesium/strontium-silicate glasses.

The effects of strontium substitution for magnesium in a novel aluminum-free multicomponent glass composition for glass ionomer cements (GICs) were investigated. A series of glass compositions were prepared based on SiO2-P2O5-CaO-ZnO-MgO(1-X)-SrOX-CaF2 (X=0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75). The mechanical properties of GICs prepared were characterized by compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural modules, and microhardness. Cell proliferation was evaluated indirectly by CCK-8 assay using various dilutions of the cement and rat mesenchyme stem cells. Incorporation of strontium instead of magnesium in the glasses has a significant influence on setting time of the cements and the properties. All mechanical properties of the GICs with SrO substitution at X=0.25 were significantly increased, then gradually decreased with further increase of the amount of strontium substitution in the glass. The GIC at X=0.25, also, showed an improved cell viability at low doses of the cement extracts in comparison with other groups or control without extracts. The results of this study demonstrate that the glass compositions with strontium substitution at low levels can be successfully used to prepare aluminum-free glass ionomer cements for repair and regeneration of hard tissues.

Biological and mechanical properties of an experimental glass-ionomer cement modified by partial replacement of CaO with MgO or ZnO

Some weaknesses of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) as dental materials, for instance the lack of bioactive potential and poor mechanical properties, remain unsolved.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the partial replacement of CaO with MgO or ZnO on the mechanical and biological properties of the experimental glass ionomer cements.Material and Methods Calcium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass was prepared for an experimental glass ionomer cement by melt quenching technique. The glass composition was modified by partial replacement (10 mol%) of CaO with MgO or ZnO. Net setting time, compressive and flexural properties, and in vitrorat dental pulp stem cells (rDPSCs) viability were examined for the prepared GICs and compared to a commercial GIC.Results The experimental GICs set more slowly than the commercial product, but their extended setting times are still within the maximum limit (8 min) specified in ISO 9917-1. Compressive strength of the experimental GIC was not increased by the partial substitution of CaO with either MgO or ZnO, but was comparable to the commercial control. For flexural properties, although there was no significance between the base and the modified glass, all prepared GICs marked a statistically higher flexural strength (p<0.05) and comparable modulus to control. The modified cements showed increased cell viability for rDPSCs.Conclusions The experimental GICs modified with MgO or ZnO can be considered bioactive dental materials.

Sol–gel-derived bioactive glass nanoparticle-incorporated glass ionomer cement with or without chitosan for enhanced mechanical and biomineralization properties

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the mechanical and in vitro biological properties (in immortalized human dental pulp stem cells (ihDPSCs)) of bioactive glass nanoparticle (BGN)-incorporated glass ionomer cement (GIC) with or without chitosan as a binder. METHODS After the BGNs were synthesized and characterized, three experimental GICs and a control (conventional GIC) that differed in the additive incorporated into a commercial GIC liquid (Hy-bond, Shofu, Japan) were produced: BG5 (5wt% of BGNs), CL0.5 (0.5wt% of chitosan), and BG5+CL0.5 (5wt% of BGNs and 0.5wt% of chitosan). After the net setting time was determined, weight change and bioactivity were analyzed in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C. Mechanical properties (compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus) were measured according to the incubation time (up to 28 days) in SBF. Cytotoxicity (1day) and biomineralization (14 days), assessed by alizarin red staining, were investigated using an extract from GIC and ihDPSCs. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukeys post hoc test; p<0.05. RESULTS BGNs were sol-gel synthesized to be approximately 42nm in diameter with a spherical morphology and amorphous structure. After the bioactivity and suspension ability of the BGNs were confirmed, all the experimental GIC groups had setting times of less than 6min and approximately 1% weight loss after 28days of incubation. In addition, BGNs incorporated into GIC (BG5 and BG5+CL0.5) exhibited surface bioactivity. The mechanical properties were increased in the BGN-incorporated GICs compared to those in the control (p<0.05). Without cytotoxicity, the biomineralization capacity was ranked in the order BG5, BG5+CL0.5, control, and CL0.5 (p<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE BGN-incorporated GIC showed enhanced mechanical properties such as compressive, diametral tensile and flexural strength as well as in vitro biomineralization properties in ihDPSCs without cytotoxicity. Therefore, the developed BGN-incorporated GIC is a promising restorative dental material, although further in vivo investigation is needed before clinical application.

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

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.

Rechargeable microbial anti-adhesive polymethyl methacrylate incorporating silver sulfadiazine-loaded mesoporous silica nanocarriers

OBJECTIVES Even though polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin is widely used as a dental material, it has poor microbial anti-adhesive properties, which accelerates oral infections. In this investigation, silver-sulfadiazine (AgSD)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ag-MSNs) were incorporated into PMMA to introduce long-term microbial anti-adhesive effects and to make PMMA a rechargeable resin. METHODS After characterization of the Ag-MSNs in terms of their mesoporous characteristics and drug loading capacity, the 3 point flexural test and hardness were evaluated in PMMA incorporating Ag-MSNs (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5%). Anti-adhesive effects were observed for Candida albicans and Streptococcus oralis with experimental specimens for up to 28days and after recharging with AgSD. RESULTS A typical spherical morphology and high mesoporosity were observed for the MSNs used for loading AgSD. Incorporation of Ag-MSNs into PMMA (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5%) sustained its flexural strength but increased its surface hardness. Anti-adhesive effects were observed after 1h of exposure to both microbial species, and the effects accelerated with increasing Ag-MSN incorporation into PMMA. Long-term microbial anti-adhesive effects were observed for up to 14 days, and further long-term (7 days) anti-adhesive effects were observed after reloading the Ag-MSN-incorporated PMMA (aged for 28 days) with AgSD; these effects were largely caused by released silver ions and partially by changes in surface hydrophilicity. No cytotoxicity to keratinocytes was observed. CONCLUSIONS The improved mechanical properties and the prolonged microbial anti-adhesive effects, which lasted after reloading of the drug, suggest the potential usefulness of Ag-MSN-incorporated PMMA as a microbial anti-adhesive dental material. SIGNIFICANCE Ag-MSN-incorporated PMMA can be used as a microbial anti-adhesive dental material for dentures, orthodontic devices and provisional restorative materials.