Zuzanna Okulus

Surface energy of bovine dentin and enamel by means of inverse gas chromatography.

Adhesion between tooth tissues and dental fillings depends on the surface energy of both connected materials. Bond strength can be determined directly or indirectly as a work of adhesion on the basis of values of surface energy of these materials. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) is one of the methods of surface energy examination. In this study the values of total surface energy components of wet and dry teeth fragments (enamel, crown dentin and root dentin) were determined with the use of inverse gas chromatography. Inverse gas chromatography has never been used for investigation of surface energy of natural tooth tissues. Different storage conditions were examined - wet and dry. Different values of surface energy are observed according to the type of tooth tissue (dentin or enamel), occurring place (crown or root) and storage conditions (dry or wet). The effect of tissue type and occurring place was the greatest, while storage conditions were of secondary importance. Surface energy depends on composition of tissue, its surface area and the presence of pores.

Inverse Gas Chromatographic Examination of Polymer Composites

Abstract Inverse gas chromatographic characterization of resins and resin based abrasive materials, polymerpolymer and polymer-filler systems, as well as dental restoratives is reviewed. Graphical Abstract

Calcium release from experimental dental materials.

The calcium release from calcium phosphate-containing experimental dental restorative materials was examined. The possible correlation of ion release with initial calcium content, solubility and degree of curing (degree of conversion) of examined materials was also investigated. Calcium release was measured with the use of an ion-selective electrode in an aqueous solution. Solubility was established by the weighing method. Raman spectroscopy was applied for the determination of the degree of conversion, while initial calcium content was examined with the use of energy-dispersive spectroscopy. For examined materials, the amount of calcium released was found to be positively correlated with solubility and initial calcium content. It was also found that the degree of conversion does not affect the ability of these experimental composites to release calcium ions.

Mechanical properties of experimental composites with different calcium phosphates fillers

Calcium phosphates (CaPs)-containing composites have already shown good properties from the point of view of dental restorative materials. The purpose of this study was to examine the crucial mechanical properties of twelve hydroxyapatite- or tricalcium phosphate-filled composites. The raw and surface-treated forms of both CaP fillers were applied. As a reference materials two experimental glass-containing composites and one commercial dental restorative composite were applied. Nano-hardness, elastic modulus, compressive, flexural and diametral tensile strength of all studied materials were determined. Application of statistical methods (one-way analysis of variance and cluster agglomerative analysis) allowed for assessing the similarities between examined materials according to the values of studied parameters. The obtained results show that in almost all cases the mechanical properties of experimental CaPs-composites are comparable or even better than mechanical properties of examined reference materials.

Characterisation of hydroxyapatite surface modified by poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) grafting

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has many applications in medicine as a biocompatible and bioactive biomaterial. Numerous studies have shown that modification of the HA surface can improve its biological and chemical properties. However, little is known about the surface properties of modified materials. In this paper the influence of organic polymers: polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) on the surface properties and surface chemistry of hydroxyapatite (HA) is presented. The surface properties of modified HA were characterised by the FT-IR, XPS, BET, and zeta potential measurements. Specific surface area was determined by BET. Infrared and XPS spectra confirmed the presence of PEG and pHEMA on the surface of HA. The BET N2 adsorption revealed slight changes in the HA surface chemistry after grafting modification. The surface chemical properties of the HA were considered to be based on the zeta potential. The decrease in zeta potential results in the increasing stability of the modified material and also in the reduction of bacterial adhesion. The reaction for surface modification of HA is proposed and described.

The effect of bonding system application on surface characteristics of bovine dentin and enamel

The main objective of this study was to examine the surface changes of bovine teeth hard tissues (dentin and enamel) after surface preparation with the use of commercial 3-component etch-and-rinse bonding system. Surface composition changes, morphology, BET specific surface area and surface energy parameters were examined after etching, application of primer and adhesive. Characteristic of tissues composition was carried out with the use of Raman spectroscopy. Morphological changes were followed by scanning electron microscopy, while specific surface area values were measured by the means of gas porosimetry. For the first time surface energy of prepared teeth hard tissues was studied with the use of inverse gas chromatography. A detailed characteristic of surface parameters of bovine teeth hard tissues was made. Obtained results show that each step of dentin and enamel preparation is reflected in all studied parameters. Application of etchant, primer and adhesive causes an increase of surface activity of all examined tissues, measured as surface energy parameters. Surface parameters changes caused by the application of bonding system are crucial from dentin/enamel - restorative material adhesion point of view.

Active diazonium-modified zeolite fillers for methacrylate-based composites

ABSTRACT The surface properties of the fillers have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the composites. Despite many uses of diazonium interface chemistry, it has rarely been used in the modification of fillers, although it has much to offer. In this work zeolite surface was modified by 4-(dimethylamino)benzenediazonium cation to obtain an active filler having dimethylamino groups for potential further applications. Modification effectiveness was determined by means of scanning-electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All applied methods confirmed the presence of an organic layer on the surface of modified zeolite, thereby the success of modification. A modified material was applied as an active filler in a methacrylic-resin-based photocurable composites which are mainly used in many dental applications. To verify the active properties of a zeolite filler some mechanical properties, as well as crosslinking ability were examined. All conducted tests proved that the addition of some amount of modified filler is beneficial for the final composite.